I've seen people mention cooking their oats in thermoses and in crock pots or on the stove. And I see the measurement for the oats. about 1/3 uncooked oats = 3 carbs. But I haven't seen specific ingredients or additions which make it taste the best. Using honey or fructose. Using protein powder versus yogurt, etc etc. If you don't mind, would you post your versions of this classic recipe here so we all can test them out and find the one that we like the best? Who knows, maybe this could become a "battle for the best breakfast" :wink:

Hi, Here are some of my favorites: Oatmeal, cottage cheese, peanut butter, and alcohol free vanillal extract Oatmeal, peaches, chopped almonds and dab of milk on top Oatmeal, strawberries, chopped almonds and a dab of milk on top Oatmeal, cinnamon, chopped apple (or applesauce), and a dab of milk on top Oatmeal, red grapes sliced on half, and a dab of milk on top Oatmeal, vanilla whey protein powder, and chopped almonds (had for breakfast today!) Sue

Sue rocks! BTW, how much is a "dab" of milk? :lol:

[quote:1e4feb5095]Oatmeal, peaches, chopped almonds and dab of milk on top Oatmeal, strawberries, chopped almonds and a dab of milk on top Oatmeal, cinnamon, chopped apple (or applesauce), and a dab of milk on top Oatmeal, red grapes sliced on half, and a dab of milk on top [/quote:1e4feb5095] Sue, what do you recommend for protein with these? Charlie

This isn't necessarily the tastiest, but it contains everything I need and can be quickly assembled in the morning: Oatmeal with protein powder to equal 3 blocks stirred in after cooking, then 1 block's worth of frozen strawberries stirred in (nuked for 2 minutes), with almonds or macademia nuts for fat. Sometimes I add a small amount of salt or stevia to sweeten the oatmeal. Andrea

[quote:a7db48028c="cduane"][quote:a7db48028c]Oatmeal, peaches, chopped almonds and dab of milk on top Oatmeal, strawberries, chopped almonds and a dab of milk on top Oatmeal, cinnamon, chopped apple (or applesauce), and a dab of milk on top Oatmeal, red grapes sliced on half, and a dab of milk on top [/quote:a7db48028c] Sue, what do you recommend for protein with these? Charlie[/quote:a7db48028c] Hi, How are you? :D I don't recommend anything specifically other then it be a low fat Zone favorable protein source. One of my favorites for a 3 block breakfast is an omelet made with 5 organic eggwhites and 1/2 oz. organic low fat cheese, then topped with a couple tablespoons of guacamole. (Almost all foood I eat is organic.) The fat in the guacamole and low fat cheese makes up for the missing fat in the egg whites. I make large batches of guacamole and freeze it in tablespoons. That way it's easliy available anytime, and never becomes brown, as guacamole will quickly do when stored for any length of time. I had this omelet for breakfast today along with a bowl of oats, peaches, and chopped almonds with a little milk on it. It's a hearty breakfast and keeps me in the Zone for hours. Sue

Hi Sue, I'm doin' good. :) I looking for variety in my bfst's, so your suggestions look very appetizing. Since we're from the same region, can you recommend a few name brands of oats? Also, how do [u:13cb8c1a1b]you[/u:13cb8c1a1b] make guacamole and separate the portions for freezing? Thanks, Charlie

Sue, What an awesome idea! How do you freeze tablespoons full? (I'm envisioning ice cube trays of green goo! I have a vacuum sealer and use that to keep my avacado stored between uses and it doesn't turn brown, but that wouldn't work so well with guacamole. I'm ever so glad that the green stuff is healthy fat, cause I just love it! :) Question 2, where do you get organic steel cut oats? Question 3, has anyone found a 1/32 teaspoon for measuring out stevia powder??? (the recommended "serving size" on my bottle. I wrote to the company and never heard back from them) Robbin P.S. To keep in line with this thread... Since I don't like the texture resulting from cooking oatmeal for 30 minutes, I do the overnight soaking method and microwave a cup of it each morning for 3 minutes. I then combine with 1 scoop of vanilla protein powder (24g P) shaken in 5 oz of unsweetened Silk soy milk, and 2 teaspoons of ground sugar cane sprinkled on top. I'm going to have to branch out and try some of Sue's recipes!

[quote:1f4a47fa13="angelrob"]Sue, What an awesome idea! How do you freeze tablespoons full? (I'm envisioning ice cube trays of green goo! I have a vacuum sealer and use that to keep my avacado stored between uses and it doesn't turn brown, but that wouldn't work so well with guacamole. I'm ever so glad that the green stuff is healthy fat, cause I just love it! :) Question 2, where do you get organic steel cut oats? Question 3, has anyone found a 1/32 teaspoon for measuring out stevia powder???[/quote:1f4a47fa13] Hi, To freeze guacamole in tablespoons, I put parchemnt paper or plastic wrap on a cookie sheet (or use nonstick if you have it) and drop the guacampole by tablespoons onto the sheet. Cover lightly and freeze just until solid then quiclky put into an airtight freezer container or plastic bag. I use organic avocados and Bearitos brand guacamole seasoning sold in an enevelope. You simply mash the avocados with the seasoning. Takes only a minute or two. Add a little fresh lemon juice to retain the green color even better. To use I take out the amount I want and thaw it in the microwave. Takes about 30 sec on high for 2 or 3 T. I buy organic steel cut oats in bulk at Wild Oats at a very reasonable price (is either $0.79 or $1.49 per pound, I forget). Don't know about the stevia. I have the liquid, but don't use it much because I don't like sometign about the tase it seeme to have. I seldom use any sweeteners. I've been eating this way for almost 10 yrs and don't miss them. One thing I notice when I made the switch to most all organic is how much sweeter the fruit is and how much more flavorful the food is in general. Sue

:P 2/3 cups cooked oatmeal,1 cup blackberries,1 1/2 tsp peanut butter and 3/4 cups cottage cheese.....glop it all together, looks awful :? .....tastes nummy :lol:

[quote:d8160e59ae="cduane"]Hi Sue, I'm doin' good. :) I looking for variety in my bfst's, so your suggestions look very appetizing. Since we're from the same region, can you recommend a few name brands of oats? Also, how do [u:d8160e59ae]you[/u:d8160e59ae] make guacamole and separate the portions for freezing? Thanks, Charlie[/quote:d8160e59ae] Hi Charlie, I used to buy those pricey McCann's in the "paint can" at S&S. Now I buy organic steel cut oats in bulk at Wild Oats. They're dirt cheap compared to Mc Cann's and cook up exactly the same. Since I wrote that other post about the bulk oats today, I've thought about it and am pretty sure they're $0.79 per pound there. I love steel cut oats, and sometimes even use them as "breading" on slices of eggplant for eggplant parmesan. Shaw's might be another place to look for them. Shaw's has an entire healthfood store right inside each store, and in addition lots of OG fruits, veggies, and meats (the CT Shaw's do anyway). But you probabaly already know that. See my other post in this thread for how I make and freeze guacamole. I freeze lots of stuff this way, individually on a cookie sheet. Today I got a good deal on some fresh scallops and am individually freezing them, some of them wrapped in turkey bacon. Have a fun weekend in this freezing wind! Sue

My oatmeal: 1/2 cup dry oatmeal (I use Bob's Redmill) and 2 1/2 cups water in slow cooker sprayed with olive oil Pam (feeds me and my husband so this is more like 6 or 7 blocks) each serving add: 1/2 pinch kosher salt 1 to 1 1/3 T. natural peanut butter 1 T. plain kefir (I don't measure--about one "gloop" out of the bottle) 1 T. Splenda-sweetened maple syrup (again, about a squirt) Serve with 3-4 oz. lean ham or 3/4 - 1 cup lowfat cottage cheese (on side). I tried the protein powder thing, but the texture totally repulses me (makes me think of wallpaper paste, or the "wheat paste" we used to use to "Dutchman" edges of furniture in theatre back in high school.) This will hold me easily 5 hours, in fact I think I could go 6 or 7 since I am usually not hungry when lunchtime comes (but I eat anyway.) I make sure to eat this if I know I will have a particularly active morning (field day at school with 300 elementary school kids is an example.)

This sounds good, but what's kefir?

Kefir is a yogurt drink (kind of like runny yogurt) that comes in a bottle. You can get flavored or plain, which we buy. It is usually found near the milk or coffeemate bottles. We use it because the one we buy has lots of active cultures, and we find that my husband can tolerate small amounts of lactose if he eats a little of this every day. (He's lactose intolerant, but this allows him to have a small bit of yogurt or feta cheese). You could easily substitute a spoonful of plain yogurt. :) Ronica

Ok, so below I've compiled some of the responses and put them together in block type sections..I hope my measurements are right, please feel free to correct me where needed. Also I would love to add more selections to the list. The Carbohydrate Blocks seem to be pretty easy but can anyone add other proteins or fats and still make it a tasty breakfast? ZONE CREATE YOUR OWN OATMEAL BREAKFAST – 3 or 4 BLOCKS (YOUR CHOICE) 2 Carbohydrate Blocks - 2/3 cup cooked oatmeal VARIATIONS 1 Protein Block: 1/4 cup 1% cottage cheese, 7 grams protein powder 1 Carbohydrate Block: 1 cup strawberries, 1/2 cup canned peaches, 2/3 cup raspberries, 1/2 blueberries, 1/2 blackberries, 1/2 apple, chopped, 1/4 applesauce Mixed Block (1 Protein & 1 Carbohydrate): 1 cup 1% milk, 1/2 cup plain yogurt, 1 cup soy milk 1 Fat Block: 1 tsp slivered almonds, 1/2 tsp almond butter or peanut butter