I have no photos of a huge fluffy bowl of protein-pimped oat bran at the moment. Right now, it's pitch black and I really don't want to take a photo with the flash, as they just aren't pretty. So, you you'll have to use your imagination until I make this YUMMY and incredibly simple breakfast another time.
[Edit to add: HERE are the photos!! Enjoy!]
For those gals (and guys!) like me who like to hit the weight-room on a regular basis, we understand the need for a good dose of protein. Not only does it support muscle maintenance and/or growth, but protein (and fat) also helps prevent excessive hunger (hopefully) for hours after your meal.
The other day, I prepared a standard serving of oat bran on the stove with a lot of water, stevia and a metric ton of cinnamon. Then for some extra texture and flavor, I added a few cubes of kabocha (you can use any other winter squash, or even apples, pears, or nothing if you are a purist...use your imagination).
In a bowl, I beat a few egg whites until much of it was foamy. I actually used my little cappuccino milk-frother from Ikea. You might remember...it was the one that took me a good solid 10 minutes to figure out how to install the batteries. I digress. You can also use an electric mixer- much easier and faster.
Then I turned the heat down to low and added the foamy egg-whites to the oatbran. Stir very well, then stir some more until the oats and whites are homogeneous and cooked to your liking. You will end up with a less-dense but enormously huge and fluffy bowl of oat bran. Did I mention that it's HUGE? Seriously, I dare you to find a single-serving bow that is big enough! From there, you have plenty of extra calories to play with, so you can sprinkle on some nuts, drizzle a nut butter or dice some fruit.
Edited to add: I stole this from my best frenemy Allie's blog and she's absolutely right:
"NOTE: the egg whites are probably not going to be cooked to a high enough heat to kill all the germies if any. So use your judgment and a high quality egg source or use powdered egg whites. Salmonella is not a recommended way to lose weight through the holidays."
It's the oat bran equivalent of a smoothie...a ton of volume for very few calories.
My breakfasts usually consist of a smoothie, but sometimes a girl's just gotta have her grains, ya know? Truth be known: I get oat envy when I read other blogs.
Speaking of oats, LOOK what the postman brought me last week!
OMGOMGOMG! Yes, the world famous Heab Maple Oaties. Here she subbed a bit of the real sweetener for stevia baking blend, and also mixed things up by using my beloved Sunflower butter. They.Are.GOOD! So good! Thank you again Heabie! And your niece Samantha thanks you for her adorable new toy:
Sam loves her new toy from Auntie Heabie. He's a little mouse with leopard skin ears, gloves and socks. Chic!Q: Do you have any secret tips for how to "volumize" dishes so that you get the most satiety bang for your calorie buck? I'm all ears!
Deb
19 comments:
ooooooo they sounds like the kinda breacy I gotta try! x x
I do the same thing with my egg whites in my oatmeal. Makes such a bit bowl LOVE IT!
With dinner I cover half of my plate with salad so it looks like i'm eating alot :)
Samantha looks very serious about her toy. Just try taking that little guy away from her.
I need oat bran photos! I do meringues for volume. Love me those fluffy egg whites!
Deb,
I must make this. I've put egg whites in my oats before, but never frothed them first, and you know I'm a volume kind of gal.
I got to thinking about you schlepping your cooler all over town. I would have been miserable constantly thinking about food, food prepping, and carrying it everywhere. Seriously, how did you do that?
So glad you loved the oaties. For Sam's toy, how about "Tony"? Tony and Sam always go together in my head b/c of Who's The Boss. It can also be an 'ode to your dad and Aunt R for their work on the show.
Sam, go get "Tony". Where's "Tony". Yeah, I think it works. :)
Tam- thanks for commenting while I had my typos and no photos- what a trooper! And welcome to the blog!
Allie- I took some photos when the sun rose, but I'll have to post them later! ;-)
Heabs- re. my food chopping, prepping, hauling in the cooler...it was wildly exhausting. As I said, it was exhausting BEING ME. It is nice to just EAT SOMETHING and then (gasp shock) FORGET about eating again for another few hours. Before, I probably ate every.single.hour. Ugh, I was probably so lean from burning cals from all the veggie chopping :-)
And the name Tony- very cute! I like it. Tony it is!
Good morning, Deb! I'm so happy that we are now on the same time zone :)
I've tried an egg white in my oats a few times, but never in oat bran and never on the stove. I'd be afraid of adding more than one because I wouldn't want to eat an oat omelet. Although, picturing that now actually doesn't sound so bad!
Have you ever added protein powder to your oats?
What a great idea! I have never thought to add eggs to something like oats.
And I love Heab's idea of Tony bc of Tony and Sam. I wanted so badly to be named Sam when that show was on!
I do egg whites in my oatmeal too. I'm all about volume--in fact, I have a designated oatmeal bowl that I went out and bought just for my morning oats, so I don't have to get up and refill the bowl.
But I'm embarrassed to admit that I only JUST tried oat bran last week while visiting my dad (although I remember it well from its heyday in the late 80s after the cholesterol study came out). As a smoothie neophyte who unfortunately lives in Chicago (where it's really uncomfortable to drink large amounts of icy beverages at certain times of the year), I'm really excited to try this new twist on an old favorite!
Your "metric ton" of cinnamon just reminded me that I bought a new fancy schmancy cinnamon at Costco that CCk recommended and now I can't remember what it's called (because *ahem* I *might* be commenting while at work).
Anyhoo, my only volumizing experience, besides on my ridiculously fine hair, is with my whey protein powder which kicks butt over my brown rice/pea protein. I can't wheyt to go back to it (slapping my own knee)!
*groan*
Thanks for the oat bran tip! I finally broke down and tried some a couple weeks ago and LOVE it!!
You lucky, lucky girl to get some HEAB maple oaties!! :)
DEB!!!!!!!! i have that ikea place mat! :)
i put protein in my oats (rolled or bran form) but in the powder, never with egg whites. i really should try it.
i love sam's enthused expression~she's my fave!
ok~quitting time~gotta go home!
XOXOXOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO
*Secretly hoping I'm one of the blogs Deb gets oat envy from*
Anywayyy... Egg whites cooked in oats, I've actually been meaning to try this! Plus oat bran is already SO VOLUMINOUS. Ahh I cannot wait.
This is right up my alley, I always try and add a ton of veggies to chicken salads and tuna salads,like celery chopped up real fine, to make it look SO BIG.
I also dilute higher fat items with acidity, like mustard, juice, etc to make something go farther (like dressing). But lately I'm enjoying the simple stuff, straight up. Like avocado and nut butter,instead of dressings on my salads, etc. So much more enjoyable!
Thinny- protein powder in oats. Yes, but I didn't feel that it "did" much for me. Wasn't more filling or tasty. And if I recall you mustn't COOK it or it gets all stringy and gross!
Carbzilla- I was also slapping my knee and LoLing! :-)
Janetha- I've used powdered eggs too but I froth them first to get the air and volume!
Your welcome! Your words were all I needed to make me wanna give this a go sounds so good! What quantity of oats do you use? x x
I have never tried egg whites mixed in with oat bran or oatmeal, but I've seen people do it on so many blogs and I am VERY curious!! My fear is that the egg whites will start to "cook" in with the oats and I'll get a weird eggy/oaty combo. It's a really great way to add protein though!
I keep seeing reminders that it's December...I am not normally a procrastinator, but every holiday season I seem to wait until THE LAST MINUTE to buy gifts!
LOVE the egg white idea!! i'm totes gonna do that for my next bowl of oaties :) how many egg whites did you useee?
Tam- it was just one serving according to the package
Hayley- you need to cook it on low or else you will get an oat bran eggwhite omelet. You'll see in my next post that it's not TOTALLY smooth, but it's not eggy either.
Julie- this was 3 egg white- pictorial in the following post :0)
Wowsa! I have not tried but I shall. Can't wait for the photos.
Awesome! I made this concotion this morning with Berry Whey from BIOCHEM. It was delish!
Thanks Deb.
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