Healthy Breakfast Ideas: Easy High Protein Nutty Oatmeal

Have you been paying attention to what you’ve been eating in the morning?

For instance, for years, my go-to was breakfast pastries. And although they were a delicious treat to wake up to in the morning, they were full of sugar and didn’t keep me full long enough to last until lunch. So, I was usually hungry and had trouble focusing in the afternoon.

So, tired of being hungry and embarrassed by my stomach’s demands for attention, I ended up switching to a more cost-effective and healthy breakfast food option that I think tastes pretty great.

And the great thing is that it’s a quick and easy recipe that you can make. So, instead of reaching for sugary cereal or other processed breakfast food items, you can try this instead.

Don’t get me wrong, there’s nothing wrong with eating the aforementioned breakfast foods every now and then. But if you’re in need of some healthy breakfast ideas that are easy to cook in the morning, then keep reading below to see how to make my high-protein nutty oatmeal below.

It’s the perfect recipe for college students and individuals who are constantly on the go. It’s also a high source of protein and fiber and is vegan and vegetarian-friendly, and you can make this recipe in less than five minutes.

What You’ll Need

For this recipe you’ll need the following ingredients:

• Oatmeal
• 2 Tbsp Peanut Butter (or a nut butter/ nut-free butter alternative)
• 2 Tbsp Chia Seeds
• Water (or the milk of your choice)

To jazz it up, you can add some of your favorite fruit (like strawberries, blueberries, bananas) for a satisfying and filling meal.

Directions For The Recipe

Method 1: Prepare Your Oatmeal In The Microwave

If you’re trying to make this quick and easy breakfast recipe, then you should use the method below. This is how I make my oatmeal and it usually takes less than 5 minutes to prepare.

Instructions

1. Read the directions on your oatmeal package to determine how much oats and water (or milk) that you will need and place the portions into a microwavable bowl.
2. Add two tablespoons of chia seeds to the bowl and give it a good mix.
3. Use the packaging instructions to determine how long to microwave your oatmeal (I usually put my oatmeal in for about three to four minutes. But make sure that you watch it so that your oatmeal doesn’t boil over in your microwave).
4. Take your oatmeal out of the microwave and add your peanut butter (or your preferred alternative) to the mixture while it’s still hot to help it spread through the oatmeal.
5. Let your oatmeal cool, top it with fruit of your choice, and enjoy!

Method 2: Prepare Your Oatmeal On Your Stovetop

If you don’t like using the microwave, then you might like this method instead.

Preparing your oatmeal on your stovetop is pretty similar to the microwave method except you’re using a different heat source. However, you need to stir your mixture more to make sure that it doesn’t stick and burn.

Instructions

1. Read the oatmeal package to see how much oats and water (or milk) that you will need and measure it out.
2. Turn your stove on to medium-heat and put your water (or milk) in a pot and place it on your stovetop. Wait until it begins to boil before stirring in your oats.
3. Cook your oatmeal for the time directed by your packaging, or until your desired doneness. Then remove it from the heat and put it in a bowl.
4. Add two tablespoons of chia seeds and peanut butter to your oatmeal. Then stir it well. (Optional: Add extra toppings like fruit, cinnamon, nuts, and more 😋)
5. Let the mixture cool down for a little while and then you’re ready to eat!

Method 3: Prepare Your Oatmeal With Hot Water

You can also prepare oatmeal without a stove or microwave, but it can take some brainstorming to figure out how you’re going to cook it. However, this is still a great method to prepare breakfast if you are travelling or on-the-go.

This would also be a cheaper alternative for breakfast if you are at a hotel. All you need to do is have an alternative heating source that can heat up your water or milk. For instance, if you’re on a flight, you can ask a flight attendant for hot water. Or, if you have access to a coffee maker or electric tea kettle, you can try heating up your water in there as well.

Instructions

1. Heat up your water (or milk) and pre-measure out your oatmeal into a bowl or cup.
2. Once the liquid is heated, pour it over your oats. Then, add in your chia seeds and mix it thoroughly.
3. Let your oatmeal sit for a few minutes to cook and thicken. Then add in your peanut butter and other toppings to your mixture.
4. Finish letting your oatmeal cool off and enjoy!

Health Benefits of Ingredients

Now that we got the recipes out of the way, let’s discuss the health benefits of oatmeal and the other ingredients that you’ll use in this recipe. Keep reading below for more information.

Health Benefits of Oatmeal

Oatmeal is not only an inexpensive and filling breakfast food but it’s also really healthy! Oatmeal can help boost heart health, lower cholesterol, and is a great source of vitamins and minerals.

Health Benefits of Chia Seeds

Chia seeds are not only a great way to add fiber to your breakfast but protein too. These tiny seeds are also high in antioxidants, Omega-3 fatty acids, and they can help improve bone health.

Health Benefits of Peanut Butter

Besides being tasty and filling, peanut butter contains antioxidants, aids overall heart health, and may reduce insulin resistance.

Additional Health Benefits

There are also other health benefits depending on the ingredients that you use. For instance, a great benefit of milk is Vitamin D and Calcium (this includes dairy-free milk).

Also adding fruit ensures that you are including more nutrients and vitamins in your breakfast with less sugar than an alternative breakfast food.

Breakdown Of Protein And Fiber

It is no secret that the standard American diet lacks a number of health advantages that other diets have. For instance, if you follow this diet, you might find that you are eating a lot of empty calories throughout the day.

So, that’s why I am glad that recipe has plenty of fiber and protein because it can be hard to get a lot of protein for breakfast unless you eat meat, eggs, or drink a high-protein drinks (which can get quite pricey).

So, I think this is a great option for those who want a protein-packed breakfast for a fraction of the cost.

I’ve included a breakdown of the fiber and protein content that the oatmeal have below.

Fiber:

10 grams (Chia Seeds) + 4 grams (Oatmeal) + 2 grams (Peanut Butter) = 16 grams

Protein:

4 grams (Chia Seeds) + 5 grams (Oatmeal) + 7 grams (Peanut Butter) = 16 grams

Also, if you don’t feel like cooking, you can make this a true grab and go recipe by creating overnight oats instead. This can also be easy and cheap to meal prep (you can try meal prepping overnight oats).

Thanks for checking out this easy and quick breakfast idea! Let me know in the comments if you want me to share some other healthy breakfast ideas that are easy to prepare or some other quick breakfast ideas.

Do You Need Something to Pin? Pin This!

Hannah Roberts

Hannah Roberts is the creator of Do. Live. Study. She loves to learn new things and hopes to help others as they go throughout their journey as an adult. You can connect with her below.