Better Oats Muffins Old Fashioned Instant Oatmeal, Blueberry Flavor

I was sweating and ruby-faced past the fourth dimension I walked into the office—I was nearly an 60 minutes belatedly to work!

After having profusely apologized to my boss, I hoped my tardiness might exist justified cheers to my nutrition-related excuse. I was late, after all, because I had been disposed to a pot of steel cut oats on the stove and absentmindedly lost rail of time.

We all know eating fiber-rich oatmeal for breakfast can help you lose weight more effectively than those store-bought cereals—just the 45 minutes needed on the stove is only way more fourth dimension than anyone tin can spare on a weekday morn. I know making overnight oats is an easy solution, just there are just some nights I'm as well tired to even think well-nigh dinner, let lone prep what I'k going to swallow the next morning for breakfast. And that'due south when I remembered there was already a solution to my trouble: instant oatmeal.

Although microwaveable oats are a magical time-saver, I know that non all boxes are created equal. And after rummaging through my local grocery shop, I found that many options are laden with artificial flavors and carelessly stripped of nutrients—not exactly the wholesome breakfast y'all had in listen. I was adamant, notwithstanding, to observe an Eat This!-approved box, and ended upward finding 12! Then, afterwards combing through more than than a hundred different options, I found the all-time and worst of the instant oats. And if yous've run into work late more than than once (like yours truly), brand a point of checking out these salubrious breakfast ideas. Each breakfast calls for just five ingredients and takes no more than v minutes to make!

Eat This

Nature's Path Organic Original Hot Oatmeal
Per bundle (50 one thousand): 190 calories, three m fat (0.5 grand saturated fatty), 0 mg sodium, 34 chiliad carbs (vi chiliad cobweb, ane g carbohydrate), viii g protein

Not That!

Quaker Instant Oatmeal Original
Per package (28 1000): 100 calories, two k fatty (0 g saturated fat), 75 mg sodium, 19 1000 carbs (3 k fiber, 0 g sugar), four grand poly peptide

You would call up that all plainly, instant oatmeal packets would but be rolled oats, right? Wrong. While Nature's Path offers a packet full of organic rolled oats, Quaker'due south selection is fabricated with guar gum (a thickener to stand in for their lack of cobweb) and caramel color, which is simply unnecessary. Pick upward Nature's Path for the perfect bare canvass for but nearly any breakfast cosmos. Tiptop it with cinnamon, almond butter, and raspberries if you lot're in the mood for something sugariness, or add a fried egg and a dollop of pesto if you're peckish some savory oats.

Eat This

thinkThin Farmer's Market Berry Crumble Oatmeal Single Serving Basin
Per cup (l yard): 190 calories, 2 g fat (0 1000 saturated fat), 140 mg sodium, 33 g carbs (5 g fiber, 10 g carbohydrate), ten 1000 protein

Non That!

Nature Valley Mixed Berry Crunch Protein Oatmeal
Per cup (73 grand): 270 calories, four m fat (one g saturated fatty), 150 mg sodium, 51 thou carbs (4 g fiber, eighteen thou sugar), 10 g protein

If you lot're a frequent Eat This, Not That! reader, you know how important protein is for weight loss. The nutrient plays a role in everything from suppressing your appetite to helping your body burn down through its fat storage. If you want to reap the benefits, nosotros'd recommend thinkThin's option over Nature Valley's. The difference here is in the serving size; you get 10 grams of poly peptide for each cup, but you take to eat a larger portion of Nature Valley to become that. And in doing so, you're also swallowing downward an additional 8 grams of sugar! Talk about health foods that are worse than a donut.

Eat This

Nature'southward Path Organic Maple Nut Hot Oatmeal
Per package (50 k): 210 calories, iv thou fat (0.5 yard saturated fat), 100 mg sodium, 38 g carbs (4 g fiber, 11 g sugar), 5 g protein

Non That!

BetterOats Oat Revolution! Maple & Brown Sugar
Per packet (43 g): 160 calories, 2.5 g fat (0 g saturated fatty), 210 mg sodium, 32 1000 carbs (three yard fiber, 12 1000 sugar), 4 g poly peptide

It'due south usually the #1 best seller from every brand. You guessed it: maple and brown carbohydrate. They might be the perfect breakfast flavor duo, just many of us don't even get to taste the existent thing. Yep—all too oftentimes, that "maple" flavour is exactly what it says information technology is—only a flavor. Accept BetterOats Oat Revolution, for example, which uses natural and artificial flavor, every bit well as caramel colour, to trick your palate into thinking you're eating the real thing. On the other hand, Nature's Path is flavored with good old fashioned maple sugar, and the addition of pecans adds some salubrious fats and actress poly peptide to help you put a cage on your ravaging hunger pangs.

Eat This

Harbinger Propeller Maple Oats
Per container (63 grand): 200 calories, 3 thousand fat (0 chiliad saturated fat), 140 mg sodium, 34 g carbs (5 one thousand cobweb, 6 chiliad saccharide), 7 g protein

Non That!

Quaker Real Medleys Supergrains Maple Pecan Raisin Flavored Oatmeal
Per loving cup (lxx k): 270 calories, vii g fat (1 g saturated fat), 240 mg sodium, 49 g carbs (five k fiber, 17 g sugar), 6 thousand protein

We love Quaker equally much as any oatmeal-lover, but nosotros were disappointed to run into they use "natural flavor" instead of maple syrup to flavor their mix. They besides were docked for having a whopping xviii grams of sugar in their loving cup offer. For a breakfast of champions, become gourmet with Straw Propeller, made simply with gluten gratis rolled oats, organic maple sugar, and body of water common salt.

Eat This

Love Grown Super Oats Packets Apple tree Cinnamon Hot Oats (GF)
Per parcel (43 yard): 160 calories, 2.5 g fatty (0 g saturated fat), thirty mg sodium, 33 g carbs (4 g fiber, 11 grand sugar), 4 thousand protein

Not That!

Nature'south Path Organic Apple Cinnamon Hot Oatmeal
Per parcel (50 k): 210 calories, 2.five g fat (0.five k saturated fatty), 100 mg sodium, twoscore g carbs (4 grand cobweb, 14 g saccharide), v g poly peptide

To salvage yourself from a sugar rush, open up a package of Love Grown's Super Oats. They're not but lower in sugar, merely Love Grown's oats are also a amend option for vegetarians, compared to Nature's Path. That's because those 4 grams of protein are "complete," thanks to the addition of chia seeds, quinoa flakes, and amaranth flakes. ICYMI: Complete proteins comprise all nine essential amino acids. Although all animal-based poly peptide is complete, many institute-based options are incomplete and demand to be combined with other plant poly peptide to provide all the musculus-building components.

Consume This

Better Oats Steel Cut Apples & Cinnamon Cup
Per cup (55 yard): 210 calories, 3.5 g fat (i g saturated fat), 260 mg sodium, 41 m carbs (5 g fiber, xvi chiliad sugar), 5 thou poly peptide

Not That!

McCann'southward Quick & Easy Steel Cutting Irish Oatmeal Apple tree Cinnamon
Per cup (54 g): 200 calories, 2 g fat (0.5 thousand saturated fat), 290 mg sodium, 42 k carbs (3 g cobweb, 21 yard sugar), 3 g protein

Steel cut oats are a different blazon of oatmeal than the rolled, instant oats you're used to. They're higher in fiber and have a lower glycemic alphabetize than other oat varieties, which translates to keeping your belly total and satisfied for hours after eating. While standard steel-cut oats take longer to cook than near other varieties, these pre-cooked varieties that are ready to eat in minutes tin can make weight loss finally experience within your grasp! Just picket out for the larger serving sizes of the flavored varieties, which can be high in sugar. If you love the taste of McCann's Apple Cinnamon, we'd recommend skipping out on the cup and grabbing their packet considering doing so will save you 9 grams of added sugar! And when it comes to picking up a plain version, you're safe with any make.

Eat This

Nature's Path Organic Qi'a Superfoods Hot Oatmeal Creamy Coconut
Per package (38 grand): 160 calories, 6 g fat (four g saturated fat), 0 mg sodium, 23 g carbs (5 g fiber, 1 g sugar), vi yard protein

Not That!

Quaker Weight Control Instant Oatmeal Maple & Dark-brown Sugar
Per parcel (45 thou): 160 calories, 3 g fatty (0.5 g saturated fat), 290 mg sodium, 29 thou carbs (6 thousand fiber, 1 g sugar), 7 one thousand protein

Don't exist fooled by those health foods buzzwords like "Weight Control." Quaker'due south option has a nearly identical nutritional profile to Nature'south Path Qi'a Superfoods Oatmeal, simply its ingredients are non on the same proficient-for-you level. Nature's Path earns its stellar contour of healthy fats, muscle-building protein, and slow-digesting fiber from all organic sources—similar dried kokosnoot, buckwheat groats, chia seeds and hemp—while Quaker is pumped of whey poly peptide isolate, artificial flavor, caramel color, and two ETNT no-no's: artificial sweeteners acesulfame potassium and sucralose. They may not spike your blood sugar, but studies have continued bogus sweeteners to skewing your gut wellness to a proinflammatory state, as well equally failing to alert your body that you're consuming a food—which may ultimately rev your appetite.

Eat This

Baker on Principal Gluten Gratuitous Blueberry Scone Instant Oatmeal
Per package (l g): 200 calories, 4 g fat (0.5 g saturated fat), 40 mg sodium, 37 k carbs (5 k fiber, 11 g carbohydrate), 7 g protein

Not That!

Glutenfreeda Blueberry Cinnamon with Flax
Per parcel (50 1000): 150 calories, 2 one thousand fat (0 g saturated fat), lx mg sodium, 29 g carbs (3 one thousand fiber, 9 g saccharide), 5 g protein

When information technology comes to evidently gluten-free oats, yous've got loads of options. And each is Eat This-approved! Besides the brands listed higher up, y'all can also check out Arrowhead Mills, Nature's Path, Bob's Cerise Mill, and Purely Elizabeth. The difference comes when you get into the flavors. Although Bakery on Chief'southward option may be a fiddling higher in carbohydrate, it's also higher in fiber—a food which volition help your body dull down the digestion of those sugars, keeping you feeling energized for longer. Plus, this Blueberry Scone flavor has extra chia and flax seeds to boost the omega-3 fat content, which can help soothe weight-inducing inflammation.

Eat This

Purely Elizabeth Cranberry Pumpkin Seed Oatmeal
Per cup (57 k): 240 calories, 7 g fatty (two g saturated fat), twoscore mg sodium, 35 thou carbs (6 one thousand fiber, 5 g saccharide), 9 g protein

Non That!

Glutenfreeda Instant Oatmeal Cranberry Apple with Walnuts & Cinnamon
Per cup (75 1000): 300 calories, 8 k fat (1 thousand saturated fatty), 125 mg sodium, 49 1000 carbs (seven g fiber, sixteen m sugar), 9 1000 protein

The biggest consequence with finding a favorite instant oatmeal is the sugar content. That's why we were thrilled to see that Purely Elizabeth is 1 of the only brands to offer a no-sugar-added flavour choice—cutting the carbohydrate content of these cranberry cups from 16 grams to 3! Not only is their cup reasonably sized, it besides contains more protein and fiber than the larger-portioned Glutenfreeda option. Non to mention, you'll as well experience comforted knowing you'll exist getting your daily dose of fatty-melting magnesium from the added pumpkin seeds.

Eat This

Nature'south Path Organic Gluten Gratis Selections Brown Sugar Maple with Aboriginal Grains
Per packet (40 thousand): 160 calories, 2 grand fatty (0 grand saturated fat), 80 mg sodium, 31 thou carbs (3 g cobweb, 8 one thousand sugar), 4 g protein

Not That!

Quaker Organic Instant Oatmeal Maple and Brownish Carbohydrate
Per packet (41 g): 150 calories, ii yard fat (0 g saturated fat), 95 mg sodium, 31 thousand carbs (three g fiber, 12 g sugar), 4 one thousand protein

Quaker Organic Oats may exist fabricated with a list of 4 simple ingredients, but we'll give you 1 guess as to which one in that location's also much of. If you guessed sugar, y'all're right! Not only does Nature's Path offer a lower-sugar option, but they as well combine their USDA Organic and gluten-free rolled oats with a blend of amaranth, quinoa, and sorghum, for an added ancient grain punch.

Eat This

Glutenfreeda Instant Oatmeal Maple Raisin With Flax
Per pouch (forty yard): 150 calories, ii 1000 fat (0 g saturated fat), 75 mg sodium, 28 g carbs (iii g cobweb, 9 k sugar), 5 g protein

Not That!

Quaker Instant Oatmeal Raisins & Spice
Per package (43 m): 160 calories, ii yard fat (0 1000 saturated fat), 210 mg sodium, 32 g carbs (3 g fiber, xiv m carbohydrate), four g poly peptide

If you lot're a die-hard cinnamon raisin fan like we are, yous probably know by this betoken that you always have to check the label before you grab a product off the shelf. That'southward considering raisins are just one of those fruits that are high in fruit sugar and sneaky brands may glaze the dried grapes with even more sweet stuff. Nosotros've got a elementary fix for you lot: make sure to grab the packet with the shortest ingredient list. Doing so—like in this case of choosing Glutenfreeda over Quaker—volition salvage you at least 5 grams of saccharide!

Eat This

Nature'due south Path Organic EnviroKidz Oatmeal Brown Sugar Maple
Per packet (32 grand): 130 calories, ane.five yard fat (0 g saturated fat), 65 mg sodium, 25 g carbs (three thou fiber, vii k sugar), 4 g protein

Not That!

Quaker Instant Oatmeal Dinosaur Eggs Brown Sugar
Per packet (50 one thousand): 190 calories, iv g fat (ii one thousand saturated fat), 240 mg sodium, 36 grand carbs (3 g fiber, 12 g sugar), 4 one thousand protein

Trust me, I know how you feel. Quaker Dinosaur Eggs was one of my favorite breakfasts equally a kid—but that was before we realized that the artificial colors Quaker uses for their dinosaurs have been continued to hyperactivity in children and that children should swallow no more than 25 grams of added saccharide a twenty-four hour period (this pocket-sized packet will make full about half of that limit). Plus, do you actually want your kids to exist ingesting hydrogenated palm oil—a man-made fatty that ofttimes contains traces of artery-clogging trans fats? Help keep your kiddies more even-keeled with a reasonable 6 grams of sugar and wholesome ingredients like organic, gluten-free rolled oats, maple saccharide, rolled amaranth, and quinoa, all found in Nature's Path EnviroKidz line.

Editor'southward note: This article was original published Oct 12, 2016, and has since been updated to reflect electric current nutritional information.

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