When did porridge get so posh? Not only are there new hand-bag friendly pop up pots of oats in perfect portions and novel high protein versions to satisfy the Atkins-lot, there’s also a new slew of oat-based body potions celebrating oats as a superfood for the outer as well as the inner you. Say goodbye to that bog standard bowl of slop and hello to the new Oat Couture.
THE HIGH PROTEIN PORRIDGE READY IN TWO MINUTES
For people on low-carb diets such paleo or Atkins, smoothies made with whey protein have become something of a breakfast du jour. But it’s winter and most of us hardly well, warm to the idea of making a giant smoothie with ice cubes, fruit and whey protein and drinking it cold. But high protein breakfasts keep you going longer and have been shown to lead to eating less during the day. Enter the new Oats and Whey High Protein Porridge from USN. It contains 21 grams of protein and only 232 calories, plus you simply add boiling water, stir, leave to sit for a couple of minutes and your bowl of hot deliciousness is ready. It does contain sugar and sweeteners though it’s not too sweet. We loved it with fresh raspberries and almond milk and it meant no snacking until lunch. It’s £29.99 from USN Online (pricey but lasts ages).
THE POP-UP POT FOR YOUR HANDBAG
Tried and tested at Healthista HQ, Grasshopper Porridge is great for a hassle-free desk safe breakfast that you could tuck straight into your coat pocket. Grasshopper in name grasshopper in nature, for when hot water is poured into the flat pack, it leaps up into the air and transforms into a full-sized pot! Well, maybe not as acrobatic as that, but certainly it’s a clever and functional concept. Grasshopper Porridge comes in cinnamon and raisin, coconut and date, and a simple cane sugar flavour, all varieties made from 100% natural flavours. The Grasshopper brand has also produced soups and noodles, so you can be ‘hoppy’ as Larry at any mealtime. (see video above)
THE LUNCHBOX JUST FOR YOUR OATS
Now maybe you’d rather make your own porridge and bring it in, but haven’t overcome the think-its-seal-tight-but-oh-god-it’s-going-everywhere problem. Sistema’s new Porridge To Go should be on your list to Santa. The four ‘klip it’ clips make spillage impossible, and all you need to do is pop your oats and milks inside, click the steam vent open, place it in the microwave and in a few minutes it’s done. The Porridge To Go has a 850ml capacity, and comes in five different colours; red, purple, green, blue and (Healthista’s favourite) pink! It retails at around £5.99 and can be found at Amazon, Robert Dyas, ASDA and Lakeland.
THE HEALTHY FLAPJACK. NO REALLY.
Nutrichef have brought out new Flapjacks that are great for getting your oats in when you’re on the move. There are three fruity flavours; apple and ginger, cherry and almond, and if that isn’t enough, there’s a “Full of Fruit” flavour too. The Nutrichef flapjack beats all its competitors in terms of lower calories, fat, saturated fat, and sodium, and on the chart on their website, it’s ranked second in all other categories. They’re suitable for vegetarians and contain no wheat, dairy or salt either. Like Grasshopper, one or two of these bars have been munched in the Healthista office, and have received a big thumb’s up. In fact, where’s my one gone…? They’re on Amazon
THE ONE TO SOOTH YOUR ITCHY LEGS
So we know that porridge is good for our insides, but what about our outsides too? Applying oats to your skin can help relieve from dryness, itchyness or irritation but no one wants to be sitting in a bathtub full of porridge. Relax in an oat water bath with an Oat Soak bath sachet from the Skin shop. Instead of swelling, these pure colloidal oats, which are much finer than your regular, remain suspended in the water, and are therefore easy to wash away too. An oat water bath will help with common skin conditions like eczema, dermatitis, psoriasis, shingles and impetigo, as well as heat rashes, nettle rashes, and general inflammation. It’ll make any skin lovely and smooth, and is an all-natural product. Ooh, I could do with one right now. Oat Soak costs £1.99 per single sachet or £9.99 for 10 sachets, available from www.skinshop.co.uk or call: 0844 7009975
…AND ONE TO SOOTHE YOUR SKIN ALL OVER
Another oat product for your body is A-Derma Exomega, specifically created for eczema-prone skin. The oat extract again helps to reduce irritation and inflammation and reduces the skin’s allergic reactions. No contains no perfumes and is deeply moisturising for both the face and the body. Available to buy at Boots.com for £10.50.
THE DIY DESIGNER OATS
Here’s a recipe from Beauty Detox Queen, Kimberly Snyder to start your day right. This is from her new book, The Beauty Detox Solution. She also has a new book, Beauty Detox Foods, out in January.
RAW ROLLED OAT CEREAL
YIELD : 2 SERVINGS
INGREDIENTS
1/2 cup raw organic oat groats or steel-cut oats, soaked overnight and rinsed well
1/2 avocado
1/4 tsp. high-quality sea salt
1/2 tsp. powdered stevia or about 10 drops liquid stevia (or to taste)
1-2 tbs. cold filtered water, as needed
This recipe is simple and tasty. IT is also quite filling, because the combination of the fibrous, complex carbs of the oat groats/steel-cut oats with a raw, fibrous, mineral-rick avocado will keep you full for a while. If you prefer cooked oatmeal, that’s fine as well, and you can also sweeten it with stevia. Be sure to eat celery sticks, raw spinach or other veggies before you eat the cereal.
DIRECTIONS
Place the soaked oats in a food processor, along with the avocado, and blend. Add the sea salt and stevia.
If you like your cereal thick and chunky, don’t add the water. Otherwise, try starting with 1 tablespoon to make it a bit thinner, and then try a second tablespoon, if desired.
NOTE : For variety, you can replace the oat groats with buckwheat groats, which you must also soak overnight and rinse well.
Kimberly Snyder
Publisher : Harlequin Non Fiction
Amazon, £7
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