Tropical Oatmeal


Lately I've been making a new version of my oatmeal recipe (be sure to check out the McDonalds diagram at the bottom of that post). I call it tropical oatmeal because there are 3 kinds of coconut in it and topped with mango, although the coconut taste is very light. Since I use old fashioned rolled oats this is an overnight recipe because the oats need to soak to make the cooking time in the morning shorter. This is really an easy oatmeal to make and with all the additives in comes in at 339 calories with 14 grams of protein and 10 grams of fiber.

Ingredients
1/3 cup rolled oats
½ cup of water (use more if you like your oatmeal a more soupy texture)
2 tsp chia seeds
3 TB unsweetened almond milk
2 TB coconut milk (not the lite kind that is half water)
1 TB unsweetened coconut flakes
half scoop protein powder
1 tsp wheat germ
1 tsp maca powder
a tiny bit of sweetener (I use various brands of sweeteners made with Erythritol)
coconut oil (this is optional, I use anywhere from 1/4 tsp to 1 tsp)
chopped mango

Directions:

The Night Before
Make a chia gel by mixing the chia seeds with the almond milk in a small container, cover with a lid and shake vigorously. Then come back 20 min later and give it another shake so it doesn't settle unevenly.
Mix the oatmeal and water in a microwavable bowl. Refrigerate overnight.

I've tried putting them both in the same bowl but I find the chia seeds soak up all the liquid from the oatmeal. Trader Joes sells chopped  frozen mango which makes things easier, I will put the mango in the bowl with the oatmeal in the fridge so it defrosts.

In The Morning
  1. Microwave the oatmeal for one minute (removing the mango beforehand).
  2. Add the maca powder, wheat germ, chia gel, and protein powder to the oatmeal.
  3. Add the coconut milk and oil to the oatmeal.
  4. Top with shredded coconut and mango and enjoy!

Why Is This Oatmeal So Good for You?

Wheat Germ is the most vitamin- and mineral-rich part of the wheat kernel. Wheat germ is removed during the refining of whole wheat grains to white flour  because its healthy oils can go rancid quickly.  is packed with important B vitamins, contains lots of fiber, plus has protein.

Coconut Milk  is full of vitamins C, E and B, it's rich in  antioxidants and lauric acid, and your body does not store the fat from coconut milk or oil, instead it uses it for energy. So don't be scared off by the saturated fatty acids in it, your body will easily burn it as fuel. Not eating enough fat can make you fat, so its important to eat healthy fats in moderation. I talked about coconut oil yesterday and coconut water here.

Ancient Peruvian women would give Maca to their men before they went off to battle because it contains high amounts of protein and has been known to energize the central nervous system. For centuries, maca root has been used to combat stress and fatigue. Tosca Reno recommends using maca for weight loss because it's a strong hormone regulator - helpful for weight loss. Maca and Chia are also ingredients in Shakeology, which I personally love because its my daily dose of nutrients.



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