What Is The Best Substitute For Oatmeal
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Instant oatmeal is a popular breakfast for campers because it’s cheap, fast, and simple to make while also being filling.
However, some people don’t like the taste of oatmeal and if you are on a low-carb diet, you can’t eat it even if you loved oatmeal.
A couple of popular substitutes are chia seeds and brown rice.
We will now look at the alternatives in detail.
Chia Seeds
Ch-ch-ch-chia! You might remember these little seeds from their days as a sprouting pottery project, but did you know that they make a great substitute for oatmeal?
That’s right - chia seeds can be used to create a delicious, healthy breakfast that is packed with nutrients and low in carbs. And, best of all, chia seeds come in a variety of flavors so you can customize your breakfast to suit your taste.
If you’re looking for a delicious and healthy alternative to oatmeal, give chia seeds a try. You’ll be surprised at how versatile and delicious they are!
Brown Rice Aka Whole Grain Rice I was surprised to learn that brown rice makes one of the best oatmeal substitutes. If you are at home or in an RV, you can make rice using a rice cooker or microwave.
If you are planning to make this dish without access to electricity, I would either get the boil in the bag version or cook at home so that I only needed to heat up at camp.
You might also find brown rice listed as “whole grain rice” because brown rice is rice with the hull still on the grain of rice.
Quinoa
Another popular oatmeal substitute is quinoa. It is a grain that has become popular and is nutritionally interesting because of the amount of protein it contains.
You can also use it like rice or pasta.
My favorite backpacking dish of all time was made with quinoa, fresh basil, and marinara sauce. While that wouldn’t be a traditional oatmeal dish, I hope it encourages you to give quinoa a try.
Buckwheat
Another option is buckwheat. It is not a grain but the seeds of a plant in the rhubarb family.
It is gluten-free, high in fiber, and a good source of protein. You can cook it like oatmeal or rice.
I have also seen buckwheat sold as “kasha,” which is toasted buckwheat.
Cornmeal Mush
If you want a hot breakfast but don’t want oatmeal, cornmeal mush is a great alternative. It is made from coarsely ground corn and has a texture similar to oatmeal.
It is usually served with milk and honey or syrup. You can also add fruit or other toppings to cornmeal mush.
Millet
Millet is versatile because when prepared it can be creamy similar to mashed potatoes or fluffy like rice.
But it has more minerals like magnesium.
There are 3 ways we typically use oatmeal for food.
Breakfast
The most popular reason people eat oatmeal is for breakfast. You can have oatmeal with milk and sugar or honey. You can also add some fruits like bananas, strawberries, and blueberries.
Oatmeal is good for you because it has a lot of fiber which helps your digestive system. It also has vitamins and minerals like iron and magnesium.
But if you can’t eat oatmeal, you can look to alternatives like brown rice or chia seeds.
Cookies
Another popular way people use oatmeal is in cookies. Oatmeal cookies are a type of drop cookie that often has raisins or other dried fruit.
The oatmeal gives the cookies a chewy texture. If you can’t eat oats, you can substitute cornmeal.
Pie Crust
Oats are also used as a binding agent in some pie crusts. While this is not a common use for oats, it is an option if you can’t eat wheat flour.
If you need a substitute for oatmeal in a recipe, the best substitutes are quinoa, buckwheat, or cornmeal mush.
These substitutes have similar textures and flavors to oatmeal.
People generally avoid eating oatmeal for three reasons.
Oatmeal is often touted as a healthy breakfast option, but many people avoid it because they find the taste unappealing.
Oatmeal can be quite bland on its own, but there are ways to make it more palatable.
For example, adding fruit or honey can give it a sweetness that many people find enjoyable.
Another way to make oatmeal more palatable is to add savory toppings like cheese or bacon.
Some people also find that oatmeal is more palatable when it is mixed with other cereals.
Ultimately, the key to making oatmeal more palatable is to experiment with different flavorings until you find a combination that you enjoy.
The second reason is that people are on Atkins or keto diets that require them to avoid eating carbs. Oatmeal is a carb, and therefore, people on these diets avoid eating it.
The third reason is that they are gluten-free and oats contain gluten. Even though oats don’t contain as much gluten as wheat does, for people with celiac disease or gluten intolerance, even trace amounts of gluten can cause serious problems.
I like eating oatmeal for breakfast but I don’t eat it as much anymore because I typically skip breakfast. While many people like oatmeal cookies, I do not. What’s worse, oatmeal cookies often have raisins and I hate it when I mistake those for chocolate chip cookies!
There are many substitutes for oatmeal that can be used in recipes. If you don’t like the taste of oatmeal, try adding fruits or spices to flavor it up. If you are gluten-free, look for substitutes that are gluten-free. And finally, if you have an allergy or intolerance, there are many substitutes that don’t contain the same allergen.
