Do this statement, “I know oats are beneficial for my health, but I just don’t fancy it!” reminds you of yourself? You might dislike the carbohydrate due to its mushy texture or dull taste, but hey, just because you aren’t interested in it doesn’t mean that you can’t enjoy the benefits that it has to offer. With some creativity, you can transform the oats into a myriad of yummy snacks! Here’s are 3 delicious recipes ready for you to try.
1. Drink Your Oats!
Oat-My-Goodness Banana Shake (Serves 1)
Ingredients:
1 cup skimmed milk (250 ml)
2 tablespoons of Dr OatCare
1 frozen banana
¼ teaspoon of cinnamon powder
½ teaspoon of cinnamon powder (optional, for sprinkling)
Directions:
Place all ingredients in a blender and blend until smooth. Sprinkle with cinnamon powder before serving.
Nutrient Information (per serve):
258 calories, 10.7 g protein, 48.9 g carbohydrates, 3.3 g fats, 0.9 g saturated fats, 0 mg cholesterol, 122 mg sodium, 4.3 g dietary fibre
2. Munch on Your Oats!
Coconut Oat Cookies (Serves 10)
Ingredients:
1 cup of desiccated coconut (100 g)
1 sachet of Dr OatCare powder (25 g)
2 large bananas (ripe)
2 teaspoons of raisins
Directions:
Preheat the oven to 180 ͦ C. Grease the baking sheet or line with parchment paper
Mash the bananas in a medium-sized bowl, add in the desiccated coconut, Dr OatCare powder and raisins
Roll the mixture into 10 small balls, and place them on the prepared sheet
Bake at 180 ͦ C for approximately 12 minutes or until the cookies turn brown
Nutrient Information (per serve):
63 calories, 0.7 g protein, 8.7 g carbohydrates, 3.3 g fats, 2.5 g saturated fats, 0 mg cholesterol, 7.8 mg sodium, 1.6 g dietary fibre
3. Lick Your Oats!
Berry Oat-ful Popsicle (Serves 6)
Ingredients:
1 cup of warm water (250 ml)
1 sachet of Dr OatCare (25 g)
A handful of chopped strawberries or other seasonal fruit
Directions:
Dissolve the sachet of Dr Oatcare powder in the warm water
Pour the mixture into the popsicle moulds
Add a handful of chopped strawberries into the moulds
Freeze for at least 5 hours or overnight, until solid.
Run under hot water release the popsicles from the moulds
Nutrient Information (per serve):
63 calories, 0.7 g protein, 8.7 g carbohydrates, 3.3 g fats, 2.5 g saturated fats, 0 mg cholesterol, 7.8 mg sodium, 1.6 g dietary fibre
The Benefits of Oats
Wholegrain products such as oats contain antioxidants like Vitamin E and phytic acid which may help prevent damage to blood vessels and offer protection against chronic diseases like colorectal cancer [1]. Besides, the beta-glucan (a type of soluble fibre) found in oats helps to regulate cholesterol and minimise the risk of developing heart diseases [2, 3]. Moreover, studies show that oats may aid in weight management, as they provide bulk and promotes satiety [1]. Including oats or oats-products such as Dr OatCare in your diet, therefore, contributes to a healthy lifestyle.
Dr OatCare not only contains Montana embryo oats, 17 organic seeds, 9 types of nuts and fortified seaweed calcium but is also high in whole grains. In fact, the product has been recognised by the Singapore Health Promotion Board as “high in whole grain”, with a serving of it offering 38.3 % of the daily wholegrain requirement. Aside from being a good complement to various recipes, Dr OatCare provides a light roasted nutty taste which makes it a delicious drink on its own.
Dr OatCare is available at FairPrice Xtra, selected FairPrice Finest, Sheng Siong supermarkets, Watsons and Unity pharmacies. Visit here for details.
References:
[1] Whole Grains—The Wise Choice! (2015, 05 January) Retrieved from: https://www.healthhub.sg/live-healthy/183/whole_grains_wise_choice
[2] H.E.A.R.T UK The Cholesterol Charity. The Power of Oat Beta Glucan. Retrieved from: https://heartuk.org.uk/images/uploads/healthylivingpdfs/HUK_factsheet_F09_OatBetaGlucanF.pdf
[3] EUFIC (2012, 06 June) Eating Oat Beta-glucan Regularly Helps Maintain Normal Blood Cholesterol. Retrieved from: http://www.eufic.org/en/healthy-living/article/eating-oat-beta-glucan-regularly-helps-maintain-normal-blood-cholesterol