Powerhouse Oatmeal Parfait

Powerhouse Oatmeal Parfait Packs a Punch

By posting this recipe I am entering a recipe contest sponsored by National Dairy Council and the Quaker Oats Center of Excellence and am eligible to win prizes associated with the contest. I was not compensated for my time.

I love oatmeal. I eat oatmeal for breakfast normally about 5 out of 7 mornings a week. It’s my favorite breakfast. I change it up by adding different toppings, such as ground cinnamon, cocoa nibs, walnuts, dried plums, dried apricots, frozen blueberries, and other foods. So, I was excited to hear about a recipe contest featuring oatmeal and lowfat or nonfat dairy products, of which I am also a big fan.

Most people, in fact 99%, don’t meet the recommended daily requirement for whole grains; and 85% don’t meet the daily requirement for dairy. So, one easy way to help meet these requirements is to start your day with a bowl of oatmeal and milk or yogurt.

For this contest, I decided to create a recipe for oatmeal that was packed full of nutrients and that anyone would love to eat. In my recipe, I cook the oatmeal in fat free milk instead of water for added nutrition with a little bit of cinnamon. I then layer the cooked oatmeal with lowfat vanilla yogurt, fresh raspberries, and toasted almonds for a nutritious breakfast parfait. Serving it in a parfait glass instead of a regular bowl adds to the fun factor and eye appeal.

This parfait provides a powerhouse of nutrients as just one serving provides an excellent source of protein (22 grams), fiber (10 grams), calcium (54%), and vitamins D, C, and B-12. It is also fast and easy to make on a busy weekday morning.

Powerhouse Oatmeal Parfait Packs Nutrients

Here’s the recipe:

Powerhouse Oatmeal Parfait

Ingredients:

1/2 cup old fashioned or quick cooking oatmeal

1 cup fat free milk (can be lactose-free, if desired)

1/2 teaspoon cinnamon

1/2 cup fresh raspberries

6 ounces lowfat or fat free vanilla yogurt

1 tablespoon sliced almonds, toasted

Directions:

Cook oatmeal according to package directions, cooking in milk instead of water and omitting salt if listed. Stir in cinnamon. Place half of oatmeal in bottom of 12-ounce or larger parfait glass; press down with spoon to eliminate air pockets. Top with half of yogurt, then half of raspberries. Repeat layers one more time. Sprinkle top with almonds.

Makes 1 serving.

Note: Recipe can be doubled or tripled, if desired.

Nutrition Information per Serving:

391 calories, 7 g total fat, 1 g saturated fat, 8 mg cholesterol, 10 g dietary fiber, 22 g protein, and 189 mg sodium. One serving of this low cost recipe provides an excellent source of protein, fiber, calcium, vitamins D, C B-12, and thiamin.

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