Slow Cooker Warm Spiced Banana Oatmeal - Breakfast 5 Ways series (DAY 1)

Happy Monday! :D

Now that fall is in full swing and school is filling up everybody's schedules, my sister (Sara) and I have decided to begin a series featuring 5 easy & healthy breakfast ideas that are perfect for busy mornings!

Let's begin the week on the right foot with a warm bowl of spiced oatmeal, shall we? This breakfast is so quick, the only thing you need to do in the morning is serve yourself and you're good to go! ... It might even give you a few more minutes to sleep in.

Here's an up close of the deliciousness...

And here is a visual of all the ingredients needed for this recipe...

Warm Spiced Banana Oatmeal - Slow Cooker Breakfast
Adapted from The Lemon Bowl
Serves 4

Ingredients:

• 1 cup steel cut oats
• 1 ripe banana, mashed
• ¼ cup chopped walnuts, or nuts of choice
• 2 cups skim milk (or almond milk)
• 2 cups water
• 2 tablespoons chia seeds
• 2 teaspoons cinnamon
• 1 teaspoon vanilla
• ½ teaspoon nutmeg
• ½ teaspoon salt
• banana slices, walnuts, brown sugar or honey (optional garnish).

Directions:

1. Place all ingredients in slow cooker and stir until fully combined.
2. Cook overnight on low for 8 hours, or on high for 3 hours.
3. In the morning, stir oatmeal with a fork to loosen the steel cut oats and make sure everything is fully combined.
4. Serve warm with banana slices, chopped walnuts, a pinch of brown sugar, or whichever topping you prefer!

Sara's note: She doubled the recipe so we could have plenty left for days to come, and froze the remaining oatmeal in separate portions in Ziplock bags for future, easier breakfasts! :)

Why it’s good for you:

Oatmeal is considered one of the world's healthiest grains. Not only does it keep you full for a hard day's work, but it also stabilizes blood sugar, lowers type 2 diabetes risk, and served alongside fruits, it significantly reduces the risk of breast cancer.

Bananas contain a unique mix of vitamins, minerals, and low glycemic carbohydrates that enhances athletic performance, benefits the digestive system, and lowers blood pressure so effectively that studies show it substantially reduces the risk of stroke!

Cinnamon is one of those common spices that a lot of people use only for it's warm flavour, unaware of it's incredible healing powers. Cinnamon repels stomach bugs/flus, soothes IBS, and even enhances alertness, memory, and cognitive development! Not to mention it is an incredible natural food preservative as well.

We hope that you enjoy this delicious recipe, let us know if you've tried it!

Stay tuned for day 2 of our Breakfast 5 Ways series!

Directory:

Day 2

Day 3

Day 4

Day 5