Why Eating Oatmeal For Breakfast Is Healthier Than You Think

We know. A bowl of steaming oats doesn't exactly come to mind when you're daydreaming or drooling over your ideal breakfast — it's more likely thoughts of fluffy French toast topped with a light snow of powdered sugar, a fried egg and slices of bacon on top of a thick piece of buttered sourdough, or the silky hollandaise that blankets a decadent plate of eggs Benedict. It's fully understandable that a bowl of oats has some tough competition in the breakfast world. But perhaps it can enter a spot in your daydreams when you find out how incredibly healthy this notoriously unexciting breakfast option is.

Oats are among the healthiest grains found on this earth. They're an excellent source of vitamins, fiber, minerals, and antioxidants, says Healthline. A half a cup of dried oats amounts to 51 grams of carbs, 8 grams of fiber, 5 grams of fat, and 13 grams of protein. All of this, and a serving is only 303 calories.

Besides being a nutrient-dense powerhouse, oats provide one of the most sought after things most of us are desperately needing more of in the morning — energy. 

And who says oatmeal has to be bland? Oats always seem to get their highest praise when they're coupled with other food. Tracy Lockwood Beckerman, a registered dietitian and author of The Better Period Food Solution, tells Well + Good she likes to add sliced banana, pumpkin seeds, and almond butter to her oatmeal. "This breakfast bowl is the definition of lasting power because it's overflowing with superstar ingredients," she says. "Oats contain a unique form of soluble fiber known as beta-glucan which helps you stay satiated for hours. Bananas sprinkle the body with energizing vitamin B6, and if you couple that with healthy fats coming from pumpkin seeds and nut butter, you'll be good to go for hours." 

Now that we know oats are mega healthy, give a boost of energy, and are the perfect pairing to other favorite foods, we can confidently say they have found a place in our daydreams about what to eat for breakfast.