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Healthy Apple Oatmeal

If oatmeal doesn’t make you think back to “the good old days” I’m not sure we can be friends 😀 Personally, I think that oatmeal is just one of those things your parents and grandma tell you to eat in order to stay warm in cold weather (like hot chocolate right? RIGHT??). But this healthy apple oatmeal is so much more than that. Tasty, amazing to smell and definitely fueling this apple cinnamon oatmeal is a necessity.

Alright, so we’ve established that oatmeal is healthy because our grandma’s said so (and we all know you do not mess with a grandma!).

And this is probably true.. back in the day.

But like everything else in today’s world, we tend to rely on the easy, instant and sugar filled variety. Meaning, our typical bowl of oats actually isn’t that healthy.

Womp womp.

But you can change!

Pre-made oatmeal packets tend to contain a lot of ingredients that don’t really contribute to a healthy breakfast. Mainly, sugar. And the sugar-filled apple cinnamon flavor was always my favorite as a kid 😉

However, thanks to all this added and unnecessary sugar, it’s no wonder kids have trouble concentrating in school when their morning fuel is sugar based. Not only do they get all wound up but they crash soon after, they become hungry and focus is out of the question.

But here’s the good news. Healthy apple oatmeal is just as easy to make as any store bought oatmeal.

Say what!?

Seriously. Oatmeal isn’t exactly difficult to whip up. And don’t you think that the extra two minutes it takes is very much worth it to keep you and the kids FULL and FUELED and ready to tackle the day without an impending sugar crash?!

And another note, regular oats are less processed than the instant variety and therefore have much more nutrition in their little flakes.

And that apple cinnamon flavor? Yea, you can mimic that 😉 just add.. apples and cinnamon!! 😀

It sounds obvious and while I understand how simple the pre-made oatmeal packets are, it really is insanely easy to make your favorite oatmeal flavors using real, whole food ingredients.

Another perk of this healthy apple oatmeal is that is uses mostly natural sugars! No additions here. Dates are one of my favorite ingredients to use because they are so darn sweet! That couples with some pure maple syrup (#iamcanadian) makes this morning breakfast bowl deliciously tasty.

And you can’t go wrong with an apple cinnamon combo… in anything! Not only does it taste great but it smells drool worthy too 😉 There’s nothing like the decadent smell of a hot meal to get kiddos out of bed!

Truthfully, a bowl of oatmeal for breakfast is not only a healthy way to start the day but a comforting one. It’s warm, cozy and delightfully filling. There’s a reason oats have been used for years and it’s because they have so much good in them!

So take the extra couple of minutes in the morning and whip up a batch of this healthy apple oatmeal for you and the kids. It takes a few minutes to thicken so use that time to get dressed, packed and then enjoy a beautifully fueling breakfast.

Ingredients In The Healthy Apple Oatmeal

1/3 cup Old Fashioned Oats
1 1/4 cup unsweetened almond milk
6 dates, chopped
1 tablespoon Chia Seeds
1/2 tablespoon Cinnamon
1 apple peeled and grated
1/4 cup Walnuts
2 tablespoons maple syrup

How To Make Apple Cinnamon Oatmeal

In a small pot combine the oats, chia, almond milk, cinnamon and dates. Heat over medium heat for 6-9 minutes until rolling boil.

Add in the apple and reduce heat and simmer for 1-2 minutes.

Remove from heat and let sit to thicken.

In the meantime toast the walnuts in the oven at 300 for 5-8 minutes or until just turning brown.

Stir in the maple syrup, pour into a bowl and top with toasted walnuts.

Makes one large bowl or two small.

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