One of the ways to avoid the high cost of healthy food, is to buy food in bulk and prepare food from scratch. My kitchen is packed with big jars full of rice, quinoa, dry beans, lentils, nuts, coconut flakes,dried fruit, rolled oats, oatgroats and more. Not only is it cheaper to buy in bulk, but also when we eat food closest to its natural form, it is obviously better for you. I try to stay away from food in cans. Not only is canned food expensive, but it produces more waste, and if you think about it,canned food is pretty gross.

In honor of healing with a healthier diet, today this post is about oat groats!! Oat groats are the whole  grain produced by the Avena Satvia plant. Most people are familiar with rolled oats. Rolled oats are made by steaming the oat groats and rolling them. The more processed oats are, the less nutritious. Instant oats? Boo. Forget about it!   Oat groats are far more nutritious, and the texture and taste is superior too.

Ode to Oat Groats

My son will eat almost anything (as long as it is vegetarian), but he doesn’t like eating oatmeal. He says I traumatized him when he was little by feeding him oatmeal for breakfast every single day. Well, it is true we ate a lot of oatmeal. Ha!  So he doesn’t like oatmeal, but he loves eating oat groats for breakfast!  We ate oat groats for breakfast this morning:

Delicious and packed with nutrition!

We cooked the oat groats. Then added unsweetened coconut flakes, almond butter, dried cranberries, hemp seeds, flax seeds, and then drizzled with raw honey. Mmmmmm. Food for a good mood.

Oat groats take longer to cook than oatmeal (about 45 minutes), but it is worth it. I promise. The energy from a breakfast like this, seems to last all day. And it tastes so good. Oat groats can be prepared raw too. Many raw food restaurants offer “Raw Groatmeal.” Soak the groats overnight and eat for breakfast. Or soak them a little longer, like 24 hrs, and you will taste and feel even more benefits.

Some health benefits of oat groats: Oat groats are high in magnesium, vitamin B1, manganese, selenium, iron, protein, antioxidants, and fiber (to name a few). Oats are known to help lower cholesterol levels, stabilize blood sugar levels, reduce the risk of heart disease, and oats aid in weight loss.

Oats are part of the family of glutenous grains.  So if you have a gluten sensitivity, proceed with caution. There is a great debate about oats and gluten.  I avoid wheat.  But my body really loves oats. So, learn to pay attention to what your body is saying.

Be Good to Your Body!

Eat good food. Be kind to your body. Be kind to the Earth.

Remember our mind, body, spirit connection.

Hooray for Oat Groats!

~t

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