Wellness Wednesdays: Fuel Up Oats - CulinArt Group

Eat Well Blog

Wellness Wednesdays: Fuel Up Oats

We are kicking off the new year with oatmeal! Oatmeal has become such a common household breakfast, but did you know what a nutritional powerhouse it is? Loaded with whole grains and fiber, oats are a great way to start your day. Oats alone are pretty bland, but that allows you to flavor and top them with your favorite fruits, nuts, and seeds. Served either warm or cold, this hearty breakfast can be prepared in a few ways with endless topping combinations, making breakfast exciting every morning.

So, why is oatmeal so praised in the breakfast world? Besides the fact that it’s super tasty, the high fiber and whole grain content helps keep our heart and stomachs healthy. The specific type of soluble fiber in oatmeal is called beta-glucan, which can lower bad cholesterol and improve good cholesterol. Fiber also aids in digestion and keeps us feeling fuller longer. Oatmeal also contains a polyphenol with antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. If you top oatmeal with extra fruit or make it with milk instead of water, you are getting extra nutrition! Fruit will add a variety of vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants and milk will boost up the calcium, vitamin D, and protein content of your oatmeal.

In addition to different preparation methods, there are actually different types of oatmeal as well.

  • Oat Groats is another name for the grain kernel. These kernels are the simplest and least processed form of oatmeal, which means they take the longest to prepare.
  • Rolled Oats, also known as old fashioned oats, are the oat groats after they are steamed, pressed with a roller, and dried.
  • Steel Cut Oats are similar to oat groats, but are cut into two or three pieces. They are unrolled, leaving them with a chewier texture.
  • Quick-Cooking Oats are rolled oats that were rolled thinner and cut into smaller pieces. Since these oats are more processed, they cook more quickly.
  • Instant Oatmeal are the type of oats you find pre-packaged and ready to be mixed with hot water. They are precooked and dried, making them very easy to prepare on a busy morning.
  • Oat Flour is created from ground up oats. This whole grain flour is great for baking or as a thickening agent for soups or stews.

Looking for some ways to enjoy this powerhouse breakfast? Check out the list below to create your favorite oatmeal dish.

  • Microwave Oats: oats can be combined with water, milk, or juice and microwaved to perfection. A quick way to enjoy breakfast in the morning without dirtying any pots or pans.
  • Stovetop Oats: similar to preparing oats in the microwave, choose your liquid and allow your oats to cook on the stovetop.
  • Baked Oatmeal: prepare your oatmeal in bulk by baking it in a dish. Cut it into squares or bars and you are ready to grab your breakfast in the morning.
  • Overnight Oats: layer your oats with liquid and toppings of choice, mix together, and leave overnight in the fridge for a creamy breakfast the next morning. Greek yogurt can be used to add some protein and thickness. Chia seeds can be added for extra omega 3’s and to make a more pudding-like consistency.
  • Savory Oats: oatmeal does not always have to be sweet. Consider adding savory spices like garlic or curry powder and top with veggies, eggs, and avocado.
  • Granola Bars: bake or no bake, oatmeal can be combined with dried fruit, nuts, a sticky sweetener (honey/syrup) and nut butter to create a homemade granola bar.
  • Cookies: oatmeal cookies are sweet, tasty, and a great way to use oatmeal.
  • Muffins: include oats in your favorite muffin recipe.
  • Pancakes: use rolled oats or oat flour to add some extra fiber to your morning pancakes.
  • Granola: bake rolled oats with your favorite granola ingredients into a crunchy breakfast or snack.
  • Burgers: oats can be used as bread crumb replacement for burgers.
  • Breading: mix oats and bread crumbs to make a crunchy breading for chicken or fish.
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  • January 2, 2019

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What our clients are saying

“What a wonderful dinner we had tonight for our international families. The food was delicious and well presented as well.”

“Thank you for including me today in the food waste demonstration/[chef competition] and flattering me with the role of “judge.” I will proudly don the [Stop Food Waste Day] apron the next time I plan an “event” in our own kitchen. I think this is a very worthwhile cause and the statistics you read off are staggering. They, alone, can intimidate a home chef, let alone be the “driver’ for a professional one.”

“Thank you and your staff for all the care and thought you give CSW adults and students. You approach events with such care and elegance- I don’t know how you do it! Especially day after day. Please thank all your staff for their wonderful work and kind manner with all of us. Here is to a great year!”

“Many, and I do mean many, thanks for a great Parents Weekend.  I heard from so many happy parents and you all work very hard to make it happen.  In gratitude and kindness…”

“We are so thankful and so impressed by your immediate attention to our power outage. It was such a relief to see all the equipment and workers coming in within a few hours of the outage. Thank you for serving dinner to all [the] students in a very difficult circumstance. Please extend our thanks to your workers who braved cold weather to grill hamburgers and hotdogs.”

“With all the prep work from Winterim ramping up and classes continuing as usual, it's a busy time to be a Forman teacher. Imagine my delight, tired as I was, when I delved into the upscale-restaurant-quality chicken parmesan our dining hall served last night. Forman is all about support, and providing our students with a dinner of that quality is just as important a measure of support as anything that happens in a classroom.”

“I can’t thank your entire team enough for the outstanding service, food, displays, everything!  You are a master at detail, and because of that Adam and I were able to focus on the parents.  I know what a sacrifice pulling off a weekend like this means, we are so appreciative and grateful to you all for your talent and generosity.”

“I ALWAYS feel spoiled by the meal offerings at CSW (The Cambridge School of Weston) and am entirely grateful for it. As I eat today's delicious and lavish lunch (and think about yesterday's as well), I can't tell you how much I feel so well cared for here, both with the food and by the dining hall staff. CSW cares for us in so many ways, both big and small.”

“Thank You! Chef Budd [and team], you overcame a new online ordering system (and hundreds of labels daily!), provided creative and healthy menus, continued to connect with local farmers to incorporate locally sourced ingredients, and worked tirelessly to serve the school community on three campuses.  While it feels like you are all a little like the Wizard of Oz right now, working behind a curtain in a kitchen far away, we sense your smiles and your passion to deliver the best possible service during these trying times. We are all so grateful!”

“I will say that CulinArt has always been a very collaborative partner to T. Rowe Price, listening to our current needs and future goals and suggesting realistic and achievable strategies to meet those goals.  2020 was obviously no exception.  CulinArt also altered other areas of our OCS and pantry programs to create safer environments for all our associates. We can only thank you for your continued flexibility and innovative ideas through these difficult times.”

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