February Super Food Challenge - Oatmeal and Buckwheat

Photo by Aschaf

Welcome to the second month of the Organized Mommy Super Food Challenge. I hope you are following along with me as we gradually incorporate new healthy foods into our regular diet!

February's super food is oatmeal and buckwheat.

Heart-healthy oatmeal helps lower cholesterol, burn fat, and prevent cancer. It's no wonder that experts consider it one of the essential super foods. Buckwheat has been shown to have similar properties.

In order to get the health benefits of oatmeal, you have to use rolled or steel-cut oats, not the quick-cook kind. That's a bummer because the real stuff takes 30 minutes to cook. Not so easy for a working mom rushing to get out of the door in the morning.

My solution is to cook a big pot of oatmeal on the weekend, and divide it up into single-servings that I store in bowls in the fridge. On weekday mornings, it's just a matter of putting a bowl in the microwave for a few seconds.

I have a guilty secret to share - every weekend, I cook oatmeal for my husband's weekday breakfasts, but I never make it for myself! Yes that's right. It's the ultimate mommy stereotype - putting your family's needs above your own.

So, my challenge this month will be to make extra oatmeal for myself, and eat it three mornings per week. (Other mornings, I usually have a high-fiber cold cereal.)

Here's my recipe:

Hot Oatmeal with Buckwheat
(makes 7 servings)
9 cups of water
1 1/2 cup steel-cut oats
1 1/2 cup wholegrain buckwheat
4 oz dried blueberries

In a large stock pot, bring water to boil. Reduce to medium heat. Add oatmeal, stirring occasionally for 15 minutes. Add buckwheat and blueberries, stirring occasionally for another 15 minutes. When done, remove from heat and let cool. Spoon into bowls, cover, and store in fridge. To reheat, heat in microwave for 1 min.

Instead of blueberries, you can experiment with other dried fruits and seasonings. I like:
* 4 oz raisins, and 3 tsp cinnamon
* dried apple pieces and 3 tsp cinnamon
* 4 oz dried cranberries and a splash of maple syrup

How will you make Oatmeal part of your regular diet?
Please share in the comments!

I will follow up at the end of the month to let you know how I did.