From overnight oats to flapjack bars – we test anti-inflammatory products to kick off the day
THERE was a time when breakfast was “the most important meal of the day”, then many people ditched it for intermittent fasting.
But a new study says skipping it can trigger anxiety and other mental health issues.
And we should all be eating anti-inflammatory products to kick off the day.
Today Jane Atkinson looks at three such oat products . . .
MILK
NOT all plant-based vegan milks are equal, but this new oat variety is great if you want the anti-inflammatory properties of an oat milk without a load of additives.
Rude Health Organic Oat Barista Drink contains spring water, 14 per cent organic oats, organicf sunlower oil and sea salt.
I drink cow’s milk, but this alternative froths up really well and is creamy yet not overly sweet.
Per 100ml it has 61 calories and 5.5 per cent sugar because of the natural sugar in oats.
It also has 2.6g fat due to the oil which gives it its creamy taste and texture.
On offer at Ocado at £1.50 for a litre.
OVERNIGHT OATS
WARM oats may not be your thing at breakfast as we head into summer, but overnight oats – those left to soak in milk or water rather than being cooked – are a great idea.
Then you can add what you want from nuts, seeds and berries to frozen fruit and even grated carrots.
And for easy portion control I love Quaker’s Oat So Simple porridge sachets.
The range features added flavourings and sugar but the Original are simply oats in a packet.
Each 27g sachet contains 100 calories and 2.4g of fibre.
Load that up and turn it into a fantastic breakfast to fuel the rest of your day.
At around £3.50 for a pack of 10 in supermarkets, sachets aren’t the cheapest way to enjoy overnight oats, but for convenience and easy measuring, they are great.
FLAPJACK
GREAT if you are on the go, Bio&Me flapjack bars have been developed by award-winning scientist Megan Rossi, aka the Gut Health Doctor.
The bars contain anti-inflammatory oats plus at least nine plant-based ingredients including nuts, seeds, fruit and veg.
The fibre-rich oats will keep you full.
Plus, while there is natural sugar from the fruit and veg, no extra is added.
They come in toffee apple, cocoa hazelnut and super berry flavour.
I tried the latter and it had a wonderful strawberry taste.
It is made of dates, chicory root fibre, extra virgin olive oil, almond butters, seeds, dried berries and fruit, carrot and seaweed.
Each 38g bar has about 150 calories and 6.5g fibre.
Delicious! £2.95 for a pack of three.