5 Ways to Eat Porridge Oats for Breakfast, Besides Porridge

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Find out why the humble bowl of porridge is still just as popular a breakfast option today as it was when it was first introduced to the UK thousands of years ago, plus why you should eat more porridge oats and five ways to eat more oats, besides porridge.

Porridge has been a staple feature of the British breakfast since it was introduced to Scotland in around 600AD, although its roots are thought to lie in the Outer Hebrides, dating back to around 2,500 years ago.

In fact, porridge has existed in many forms all over the world for thousands of years; you might hear it being called oatmeal in the US and savoury porridges have been popular in China and other parts of south east Asia for thousands of years. For the purpose of this article, however, I’m talking about the porridge we traditionally eat in the UK for breakfast, made using porridge oats and milk and/or water.

For me, porridge conjures up nostalgic memories of hot, milky bowls of creamy porridge prepared on the gas hob by my mother, drizzled with honey or served with a dollop of strawberry jam in the centre. Even now, I can never say to to a bowl of my mum’s porridge.

Packed with porridge oats, this simple breakfast dish brings a new meaning to the term, “breakfast of champions”. A single bowl of porridge will leave you feeling full for at least a few hours and as porridge oats are packed with vitamins, it’s a great way to set yourself up for the day. In fact, many athletes eat porridge to fuel up ahead of a big performance as it’s heavy on protein and carbs, yet low in fat and quickly digestible. It’s also a popular post work-out option, as the magnesium content reenergises tired muscles.

When you consider the many benefits of eating porridge oats, it’s easy to see why porridge has remained such a popular British breakfast choice to this day.

So, when it comes to shopping for porridge oats, which variety should you choose and how can you eat more oats besides filling up on porridge?

Porridge oats vs. rolled oats

When you’re at the supermarket shopping for porridge oats, the first thing you’ll notice is that there are two main options: porridge oats and rolled oats. While rolled oats are flattened using heavy rollers to ensure they’ll absorb water or milk quickly and reduce cooking times, porridge oats are either cut or ground. This makes for a slightly courser oat, which can result in a more pleasant texture or creamier porridge (although you’ll need to cook them for slightly longer)

Are rolled oats healthier than porridge oats?

While all oats are great sources of fibre and protein, porridge oats are thought to be somewhat healthier than rolled oats because they are the least processed of the two, so they’re the purest form of the original oat groat.

For a greater variety of choice when it comes to shopping for porridge oats, you could check out the Mornflake brand. They offer a number of different kinds of porridge, including organic and gluten-free options.

Fed up of porridge? Here are 5 deliciously different ways to eat porridge oats for breakfast

Make your own granola

If porridge just isn’t cutting it for breakfast anymore but you’re still keen to start the day with a healthy dose of porridge oats, switch things up with some DIY granola. All you need are some oats along with your favourite dried fruits, nuts, seeds, some olive oil and a little brown sugar.

Rustle up some breakfast bars

Can’t cope without your fix of porridge oats in the morning, yet also can’t face any more porridge? Consider making your own oat-packed breakfast bars. These are very similar to flapjacks to prepare and you could kill two birds with one stone and make your breakfast bars while making your granola.

Bake oat-topped muffins

The next time you bake a batch of muffins, try sprinkling a handful of porridge oats over them before you pop them into the oven. This adds a lovely texture and introduces a little more fibre and protein to your muffins, so you can feel a little less guilty about eating them. Blueberry, apple and cinnamon muffins work particularly well with oats on top.

Add porridge oats to pancakes

Jazz up your pancakes by throwing in a small handful of oats to add taste and texture. The additional fibre will mean you’ll be fuller for longer and less likely to spend the morning snacking. Win-win!

Put oats in smoothies

We all love a good breakfast smoothie to start the day right with. My favourite flavour is watermelon, strawberry and mint; it makes for such a refreshing way to begin the morning.

The next time you’re making a smoothie or a smoothie bowl, why not add a few oats? This will make for a slightly thicker, more fibre-rich smoother that’ll stave off hunger pangs for at least a couple of hours.

What are your favourite ways to eat porridge oats for breakfast besides stuffing yourself with porridge? Comment below to share your thoughts with other readers.

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