This healthy high fiber Oat Bran Power Bowl recipe is a really cozy way to fuel your day ~ oat bran is creamier, tastier, and keeps you satisfied even longer than regular oatmeal. We love it!
Do you eat oat bran? It’s probably our favorite of all the hot cereals, but for some reason we forgot about it for a few years, and rediscovered it in a big way this winter. Now we have it every morning. It cooks up to a creamier texture than oats, and I think it has a sweeter, ‘oatier’ flavor. Here’s the thing, oat bran is the outer layer of the oat, where all the ‘good stuff’ is. It’s even better than regular oatmeal at giving you that full feeling that lasts for hours. It’s so good for you that it makes sense to find other ways to get it into your diet, you can mix it into pancakes and muffins, sprinkle it into smoothies and yogurt, or use it in place of bread crumbs in meatloaf and burgers, etc.
Oat bran is like oatmeal on steroids ~ it’s a super food that lowers cholesterol, and helps prevent heart disease and diabetes. It absorbs water as it passes through your digestive system, which makes you feel fuller, longer, and so helps you control your weight.
Normally I’ll top it with a touch of dark brown sugar, some crumbled walnuts, a few raisins or dried cranberries, and milk, or coconut milk~ but today I decided to go all out for this oat bran power bowl and use a little bit of everything from my stash of dried fruits, nuts, and seeds. It makes this morning bowl extra hearty and satisfying.
Oat Bran vs Oatmeal ~ What’s the Difference?
Oat bran
- The outer layer of the oat grain ~ the most nutrient-dense part
- Especially rich in fiber
- Cooks in just a few minutes
- Texture is soft, creamy, and almost silky
Oatmeal (rolled or steel-cut oats)
- Made from the whole oat grain
- Heartier and more substantial
- Chewier texture with a milder fiber impact
Shopping tip
Look for oat bran in the cereal aisle (Bob’s Red Mill and Quaker are widely available), or check bulk bins if your store carries them.
Even if oatmeal isn’t your thing, oat bran is worth a try ~ it’s a different (and often more appealing) experience altogether.
Tips for enjoying oat bran
- We discovered that oat bran reheats beautifully in the microwave ~ give it a stir and it’s good to go. That means you can make a big batch on Sunday and enjoy hot cereal for the whole week.
- Tip: Do you have opened packages of dried fruit, nuts and seeds scattered about your cabinets? I organize them in jumbo zip lock bags…one for fruit, one for nuts, and one for seeds…that way I can keep track of them and access them easily for healthy oat bran bowls.
- For a richer cereal use low fat or non fat milk in place of half or all the water.
- Another way to enjoy healthy oat bran is in my ORANGE WALNUT OAT BRAN MUFFINS!
This oat bran power bowl proves that yogurt and smoothies haven’t cornered the market on pretty, colorful BREAKFAST BOWLS!
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Oat Bran Power Bowl
Ingredients
- 1 cup oat bran
- 2 2/3 cups water
- 1/4 tsp salt
- dark brown sugar
- fruit nut and seed mix
- milk, half and half, or coconut milk
fruit nut and seed mix
- walnuts, chopped
- cashews, chopped
- pistachios, chopped
- sliced almonds
- dried apricots, chopped
- dried plums, chopped
- dried dates, chopped
- dried pineapple, chopped
- banana chips, chopped
- dried kiwi, chopped
- dried cranberries
- pepitas
- sunflower seeds
- flax seeds
- chia seeds
Instructions
- Put the water into a saucepan and add salt. Bring to a boil, then slowly whisk in the oat bran. Lower the heat and cook for about 2 minutes; it may bubble up so watch your pan. Cover pan with lid and let sit, off the heat, for 2 more minutes.
- Spoon the oat bran into 2 bowls, and add a sprinkle of dark brown sugar and some of the fruit/nut/seed mix. Top with a little milk, half and half, or coconut milk, and enjoy!
Notes
Nutrition
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