Making This Simple Change To Your Breakfast Routine Could Supercharge Weight Loss
Oatmeal is a healthy breakfast option that’s satisfying, adaptable (it can be savory or sweet!), and easy to make. Including oatmeal in your morning routine can even help with weight loss! But if that’s your goal, watch out for this common mistake people make when eating it, which could be making it harder to shed those pounds.
The Pros and Cons of Oatmeal
When it comes to health benefits, oatmeal is chock-full of them. First off, it’s loaded with fiber, which lowers cholesterol, balances blood sugar levels, and improves the levels of “good” bacteria in your gut. Fiber also helps you feel fuller, which can help you manage or lose weight. Oatmeal is also packed with antioxidants that fight cell-damaging free radicals in the body. Talk about working overtime!
However, one of the biggest mistakes that people make when it comes to incorporating oatmeal into their diet is not adding a protein source to it. “Oatmeal is a carbohydrate and contains little to no protein or fat, so it is digested more quickly than these macronutrients, which can lead to blood sugar swings and increased cravings and hunger pretty soon after you eat it — especially when doused with added sugars like maple syrup and brown sugar,” registered dietician Laura Burak recently told Eat This, Not That!
How To Incorporate Protein Into Your Oatmeal
Luckily, there are an infinite number of delicious ways to pack more protein into this breakfast staple without any extra effort. Protein powder (especially in fun flavors, like milk ‘n’ cookies (Buy from Amazon, $46.99), nut butters, and seeds are all easy to mix in for a boost.
Prefer your oatmeal plain? Scramble a couple of eggs to eat on the side, or slice some fruit into a bowl of cottage cheese (We love Good Culture, which contains gut-friendly probiotics). You can still enjoy your oatmeal the way you like it; just make sure you’re giving your breakfast a once-over to confirm you’ve got some protein in the mix too.
Armed with this tip, it’ll be easy — and fun! — to create some delicious oatmeal concoctions that can help you on your weight loss journey. Bon appétit!
