Oatmeal has long been a staple in our home. As a health advocate, I’m always looking for ways to keep my family in optimal health, starting with the most important meal of the day, breakfast.
When the kids started school, I wanted to give them something that was nutritious and would also provide the energy to keep them satisfied until lunch. Also, whole grains with higher fiber content slows down digestion, thus keeping us fuller longer.
One of the reasons oatmeal has been a preferred option for breakfast in our home is because of it’s great source of complex carbohydrates, which stabilizes blood sugar and helps prevent energy crashes.
It’s my desire to help my kids create a habit of choosing healthier options at a young age, so that when they are old enough to be on their own, these healthy habits would become a part of their lifestyles.
Now all teenagers, my children continue to love and prefer Quaker Oatmeal most mornings for breakfast. My daughter started whipping up her own recipe using steel cut oats with cinnamon, honey and bananas. It’s always a treat when she makes a batch big enough to share with her mom.
Another reason to include oatmeal in our daily diet is for heart-health benefits. Studies recently revealed that almost one-third of young adults said that they were not old enough to be concerned with heart disease; however, according to the American Heart Association, one in three Americans suffer from some type of heart disease.
Heart disease remains the #1 killer in America, and what’s even more startling, every one minute a woman dies from this horrible disease.
The good news is, heart disease can be prevented by making diet and lifestyle changes.
A bowl of oatmeal a day may keep heart disease away. According to several clinical studies dating back to the early 1960s, oat type foods reduce cholesterol (a waxy fat substance that attaches itself to the walls of the heart arteries causing heart disease).
Quaker in partnership with SUPERVALU stores such as JEWEL-OSCO®, developed Power in Numbers, a heart-health program to help Americans combat heart disease.
Customers who purchase three or more Quaker products during a shopping visit will receive a coupon for a FREE cholesterol Screening until March 27th, 2011.
The products that qualify for the FREE Cholesterol Screening includes: Quaker Quick or Old Fashioned Oats, Instant Quaker Oatmeal, and Quaker Oatmeal Squares.
After participating in the FREE Cholesterol Screening and receiving your cholesterol numbers, you may visit www.Quaker.com/powerinnumbers to learn more about what the numbers means to you and how to take action towards a heart-healthy lifestyle.
I’m a firm believer that knowledge is only as powerful as when we act upon it.
Power by Numbers offers educational tools and resources that will empower you to take charge of your heart-health.
Starting the day with one of Quaker’s breakfast options and utilizing the Powered by Nutrition iQ® Breakfast Planner will assist you in creating a healthy breakfast shopping list to begin your heart-health journey.
Eating a healthy breakfast has been linked to weight loss, maintaining weight loss, and nutritious intake according to the new Dietary Guidelines for Americans (2010).
Quaker offers a variety of options as highlighted above to get your mornings off to a healthier start and lifestyle.
Please visit www.Quaker.com/powerinnumbers for additional SUPERVALUE stores participating in the FREE Cholesterol Screening in your area.
Live healthier, happier and longer.
{ 4 comments… read them below or add one }
I’ve been eating Quaker for two weeks. I am aware that the food grains are very beneficial to heart health. But I have a problem with the taste, give me advice on presenting a variety of Quaker, so I’m not bored
Have you tried adding fruit? Another way is to mix your oatmeal with yogurt (I like Greek Yogurt).
Yeah, if you’re eating just plain oatmeal, it isn’t too exciting. I put a little packet of sugar on it.
Honey and cinnamon is always nice too.