As I’ve probably mentioned in the past, breakfast is my favorite meal of the day.

Maybe it’s the fact that I have a total sweet tooth, and really just love any excuse to load up my plate with fruit, pancakes, and maple syrup. Or simply that I love starting my day with something healthy, and then feeling good about myself for the rest of the day! (Okay, so maple syrup and healthy breakfast are two polar opposites, but I guess I just love breakfast no matter what! ;))

Of course, most people don’t have an hour to spend in the kitchen in the morning whipping up something delicious. Or even more than ten minutes. Well, if you’re someone who either doesn’t have the time or simply doesn’t like spending forever preparing a fancy breakfast… these oats are the breakfast for you!

Steel Cut oats, while having about the same amount of fat as rolled oats, actually have many benefits in contrast to rolled oats. Even though both rolled and steel cut oats sport similar nutrition info, you can’t forget about their processing when comparing the two. Rolled oats are steamed, rolled, steamed once again, and finally toasted, while steel cut oats are simply coarsely chopped. This means that steel cut oats have a lower Glycemic index, and won’t spike your blood sugar as much as rolled oats may.

In addition to this, these oats are perfect for making in a big batch Sunday night, then storing in the fridge and enjoying all week long! Since they’re so coarsely chopped, they don’t get soggy after sitting in the fridge all week. And all you have to do when you want to enjoy a healthy, filling breakfast is scoop some in a bowl and pop in the microwave!

I’ve actually had these oats every morning this week, and I still can’t get enough of them! I recommend adding a bit of honey and almond milk after you heat them up in the morning, or maybe even topping with a few banana slices! And let me tell you, these oats will without a doubt fill you up until lunch! Plus, since they take longer to digest, and therefore have a slower release of energy, than a fruit cup or sugary cereal, you’ll feel energized all morning.

And they taste like a big bowl of warm, wintery goodness!

Sugar & Spiced Apple Steal Cut Oats

• 1 c steel cut oats
• 2 c water
• 2 c almond milk
• 2 medium apples
• 2 tbs coconut sugar (or brown sugar)
• 1 tsp cinnamon
• 1/2 tsp vanilla extract

Add 2 c water, 2 c almond milk, cinnamon, and vanilla to a large pot. Stir in 1 c steel cut oats, keeping heat on high. BUT KEEP AN EYE ON IT!!! Turn the heat down to medium-high and stir if milk rises too much. After about 5 minutes, once they’ve began to thicken, chop up apples (peel if desired) and add to oats. Turn down the heat to simmer and add coconut sugar (or brown sugar). Stir occasionally. After 30 minutes, remove from the stove and add extra almond milk and honey, if desired. Serve and enjoy!

Nutrition Information (from myfitnesspal.com)

Calories: 206

Fat: 3g

Carbs: 41g

Protein: 6g

(Yields 1 servings)