So, you’re puttering around your cupboards for a snack and you can’t find anything decent. What about that oatmeal stacked behind the cereal? Who’s to say that oatmeal is only delicious and nutritious in the morning, huh? And how about throwing in a banana for some added flavor? The combination is a quick, easy snack. Sweet, warm, and creamy - it just tastes like home.

I’ve found that a great way to work nutritious foods into your diet is to just keep it simple. And this snack does that in spades. Let’s start with the oatmeal and work our way to the fruit of the matter, shall we?

I prefer McCann’s Quick and Easy Steel-Cut Irish Oatmeal. Like the instant oatmeals you find, it’s quick and easy to prepare, it takes only five minutes. But, unlike instant oatmeal, McCann’s is made with steel-cut oats, also known as Irish or Scottish oats, as opposed to rolled oats.

When rolled oats are prepared, they are steamed, then rolled, re-steamed, and then toasted. This process results in the loss of much of the valuable nutrition in the oats and gives oatmeal a paste-like consistency, rather than that of a good creamy hot cereal. Steel-cut oats are chosen, removed from their outer husks, cut into smaller pieces, and that’s it!  What they grow and pick is what you get. I certainly like the sound of that.

Here’s the breakdown for a ¼-cup (40 gram) serving of McCann’s:

• Calories - 150
• Total Fat - 2 g
• Dietary Fiber - 4 g
• Soluble Fiber - 2 g
• Protein - 4g

As you can see, McCann’s oatmeal has a good amount of fiber. It contains both soluble and insoluble fiber. Soluble fiber dissolves in water and forms a gel that traps toxins. It can help lower cholesterol and regulate blood sugar, which is especially important for diabetics. Insoluble fiber helps to get things moving in your body and is a good digestive aid.

In addition to the ability of soluble fiber to help regulate blood sugar, oatmeal also has a low glycemic index, which means that it raises our blood sugar slowly, leaving us satisfied longer.

Oatmeal is also high in B vitamins, which have a ton of benefits, including helping to keep your heart and nervous system healthy. Certain B vitamins also aid in metabolism and help your body process fats, carbohydrates, and proteins. (Check out more health benefits of oatmeal.)

We’re Going Bananas!

But the fun doesn’t stop there! Check out all the good stuff you’re getting when you throw in some banana slices. Bananas are low in saturated fat and provide a hefty amount of their own fiber, plus potassium, magnesium, and vitamins C and B6. The potassium helps to lower blood pressure, build muscles, and fight fatigue and kidney stones, while the vitamin C and B6 work to boost your bodies immunity and nervous systems. The magnesium is calming and the iron helps combat anemia. Put it all together and you’ve got yourself quite the snack topping.

Why Would I Wanna Eat Oatmeal!?!!

Okay, so I talked and talked about why you should have oatmeal and bananas as a snack… but what about why you would want to? When I was a little girl, my mother often tried to pitch oatmeal for breakfast or an afternoon snack. Unfortunately for me, I wouldn’t have it, but in recent years I retried it, and to my surprise, the combination of the steel-cut, almost nutty oats and the smooth, creamy, sweetness of the bananas made for a delightful warm snack. It doesn’t need any added sugars, no maple syrup, no honey. The banana is more than enough to sweeten up the oats, and the two bring out each other’s flavors beautifully, making the experience even richer than I expected.  A little cinnamon might add a nice spice to the mix as well. I even found myself slowing down as I ate because of how filling it was. If you try this once, I’ll bet you’ll be back for more. Just give it five minutes and you’ll have a snack to carry you through those cold afternoons. Writing this has made me hungry, so that’s all until next snack.

Happy snacking!

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