today, in an attempt to start making healthier choices, i reached for the oatmeal for lunch instead of crappy ramen noodle soups and grilled cheese sandwiches. but, i didnt have any milk, and i didnt want to add sugar to the oatmeal. also, i hate the taste of artificial sweetener (im not that big on sweets in the first place). so, as the oatmeal finished on the stove, and dreading the blandness of plain soaked oats, i scrambled through my cupboard. what i came up with was intriguing. I tossed in several sprinkles of powdered cinnamon, and then a strong dash of imitation vanilla extract (soluted in alcohol), approximately 1/5 to 1 teaspoons worth. because i added the extract at the end of the cooking process, the alcohol didnt quite get a chance to cook off so much, and what i was left with was something quite interesting. by no means was it the greatest tasting thing ive made, but i added no extra calories (ok about 3 calories in a half gram of alcohol from the extract), and had something that was very interesting. the cinnamon added a little flavor, as did the vanilla, but mostly the alcohol in the extract added a slight bite to the oatmeal. my discovery wasnt something that was healthy and tasted great, but that getting healthy food down that i might normally have a hard time with could be made easier just by screwing with the food a bit and making it somethign im not expecting. a bite to oatmeal?? who wouldve thought that? but it was something different, and i was able to finish it easily, with no milk or sugar, purely because it was now interesting.

just thought i would share this little oddity...

if you check out the spice aisle in yur grocery store -there's a variety of extracts that can be added for some different flavor variations...

Maple
Cinnamon
Orange would even be good, with some cocoa powder


Good for you for being experimental

You've inspired me! And I've just looked up and found that a teaspoon of cocoa powder only has 4 calories -awesome!

I like adding fruit to my oatmeal. I toss in some frozen blueberries or a sliced banana and then stick it in the microwave to cook. I usually add a little brown sugar too, but I'm trying to cut back.

I like it except for the fruit...add some cinn to it...

Interesting to read this thread a few months later. I now have oatmeal every day for breakfast and no longer use any sugar in it. I always put in some sort of fruit... blueberries, raspberries, raisins (w/ cinnamon), even applesauce (also w/cinnamon), and I now add a tablespoon of ground flax seed meal for extra fiber and protein.

Thanks for this post- I did this for breakfast :P

mmm when i get back to the uk i cant wait to have some oatmeal. i love putting spices in it. i dont cook it with milk either, for some reason warm soy milk tastes horrible to me. the same with porridge! i cook it with a tiny bit of warm water then squeeze all the moisture out of it so its sticky and not wet and put stuff in it. like fruit, seeds and grains, yogurth, cinnamon. is great for winter when its cold outside.

over here in asia people eat weird porridge. you can order chinese ;orridge which goes like this:

porridge. milk. frogs. vegetables etc ALL IN ONE BOWL

but they do eat cendol out here, its malay dessert. its got sweetcorn, kidney beans, shaved ice, ice cream, jelly and fruit. weird!

Yeah I don't cook my oatmeal with milk either. I use 1/3 cup rolled oats (quick cooking) and a little less than 2/3 cup water... microwave for 1 minute on high. Only 100 calories plus whatever fruit, flax seed, etc I add. And it's pretty filling.

My most recent favorite is raisins with nutmeg, cinnamon, and stevia (you could do splenda instead). Tastes like dessert!

I like Cream of Wheat. I use one packet of Splenda in it. I don't cook it with milk I use water. It's filling and low calorie. I think I will try adding some cinnamon or maybe some nutmeg to it. Sounds yummy.

I add fruit to cottage cheese. I eat the fat free one. Even when I am not "on the wagon". An orange, pineapple, strawberries or grapes. It makes it have more substance. Good stuff.

what is splenda??

Splenda is so cool, its a calorie free sugar subsitute that tastes super good!

aaah. i dont really tend to use sugar, i think the only time i use it is when i cook a curry. and thats a small bit. is splenda one of those small pills you put in your tea or coffe to make it sweet? or is it fake sugar granule

I have had a granola type of cereal mix for breakfast every day for about eight months now except when I am away from home on short trips.

I really think it has helped me lose the weight I wanted to lose.

I just mix different raw cereal mixes (no added sugar ones) from the health food store with nuts, raisons, sweeten it with splenda, add a heaping teaspoon of pysillium fiber & let it soak while I drink my morning tea. Some times I add a little milk, sometimes butter spray, cinnamon, ginger whatever appeals at the moment. Not too exciting but I enjoy it.