Oatmeal! My favorite breakfast regardless of the season! But especially when it's colder outside, a nice warm bowl of oatmeal does the trick. But hold on, I'm not talking about packaged pre-portioned instant varieties–I like my plain, old-fashioned rolled oats. Plain and simple (of course I add my own fixin's). Why am I so fond of this rolled grain, you ask?

It is a whole grain, which means it has lots of vitamins and minerals
It has a nice helping of fiber and protein
It is low in fat and calories
It is tremendously versatile

If you haven't already, you should try making your own oatmeal from old fashioned rolled oats. Cook them with water or milk–your choice! Try adding

walnuts, cinnamon, and some plain greek yogurt
ground nuts with a touch of maple syrup
fresh fruit (apples, pears, peaches, plums)
frozen fruit (berries)
raisins/dried cranberries, cinnamon, and nuts
a bit of fruit preserves with plain yogurt

The possibilities are endless!

Marina Bedrossian is a Northport, NY dietitian nutritionist who helps people with holistic nutrition solutions and food sensitivities. Visit this page to schedule an appointment and don’t forget to join the private Facebook group “Ingredients For Healthy Families” more information here.