…brilliant for breakfast, brunch, lunch or even dinner.
The mighty oat has been eaten for centuries, and with its nutritional credentials and versatility it is not surprising it is still a store cupboard staple. We spoke to granola champion and oaty advocate Jane Moore from Jane’s Grains about this brilliant breakfast ingredient…
“The nutritional powerhouse we call the ‘mighty oat’ is the very foundation to our favourite cereals. For decades we’ve been eating oats to give us energy and sustenance throughout the day, and it really has been true to its word – even though it started its humble beginnings as a weed among the crops and the romans used them for horse food. No wonder the Romans never defeated the Scots!
So what is it about the oat that makes it so good for us? Well firstly, oats contain beta glucans, which lower blood cholesterol, and they are packed with B vitamins, soluble fibre and protein, essential for a healthy gut. Soluble fibre also slows the absorption of glucose into the body, which means no sugar highs and lows, with the added benefit of making us feel full for longer. Oats also have anti-inflammatory properties that will help to heal dry and itchy skin. I remember as a teenager making oat face masks, they really do make your skin softer.
Making the oat part of our daily diet will give all of the above, so in whatever way we want to eat it, it is a no brainer!”
OATY ALTERNATIVES
Jazz up your brekkie and swap your oats for one of these alternative grains…
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- Buckwheat
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- Quinoa
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- Millet
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- Wheat Berries
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- Spelt
- Brown Rice