Oats

Did you know that oats are SUPER good for you?!!  Well they are!  Oats are a low calorie food.  A cup is only 130 calories!  They also stay in your stomach longer so they make you feel full for longer.  They also provide a high level of fiber and a low level of fat.  Oats are also on the list for some of the highest protein of any grain.  Oats also help to stabilize blood sugar and reduce the risk of diabetes.  The high fiber and complex carbs help to slow down the conversion into simple sugars.  Oats have also been shown to lower cholesterol, protect against heart disease and cancer and enhance the body’s immune system response to disease!  That’s a lot of work for a food!  

There are TONS of ways to eat oats.  Oatmeal is an easy choice.  I eat oatmeal almost every morning for breakfast.  I throw in some ripe berries and some honey and it is DELISH!  Oats can also be ground up and used to make pancakes!  One cup of ground oats, ½ a cup of almond milk and one egg!  That’s it!  Another one of my favorites is No Bake Energy Bites.  (We call them Amazeballs!!!)

1 cup oatmeal
½ cup peanut butter (or other nut butter)
⅓ cup honey
1 cup coconut flakes
½ cup ground flaxseed
½ cup mini chocolate chips
1 tsp vanilla

Mix everything above in a medium bowl.  Let chill in the refrigerator for half an hour.  Once chilled, roll into balls and enjoy!  I personally don’t put the coconut in there.  And I quit rolling them into balls and just started making a smaller version in a cup.  They are SOOO good!  

I hope everyone has a WONDERFUL weekend!!!