One time Quinn made maple & brown sugar oatmeal and Eliana had to leave because she hates the smell of maple syrup and it makes her feel sick. It was a funny learning experience.

A bowl of healthy grains to start the day off right!

I was buying the organic stuff at my local Whole Foods Market for a long time, but it was just more cost effective to buy it bulk at Costco. I wish all of my food could be organic. However, I'm not made of money, as they say. This stuff does the job, too, and hopefully I'm not sacrificing too much by not eating organic oatmeal for breakfast. Here are some statistics on what eating oatmeal on a regular basis can do for you:

"Oatmeal is heart healthy. More than 40 scientific studies show that eating oatmeal daily may help lower blood cholesterol. In fact, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration granted the first food- specific health claim to Quaker Oats for use on oatmeal: Soluble fiber from oatmeal, as part of a diet low in saturated fat and cholesterol, may reduce the risk of heart disease.

Oats can help to lower LDL (the "bad" cholesterol) blood cholesterol levels. Though most of its cholesterol-lowering power comes from the soluble fiber beta-glucan, recent research suggests that other components of oats - such as the protein and natural antioxidants-may also contribute to heart health.

Emerging research suggests that oatmeal may help maintain healthy blood pressure levels and may help promote healthy blood flow. Oatmeal, as a source of fiber, may also help to slow the rate of digestion, which may help to maintain healthy blood sugar levels, as well as curb appetite. Having energy sustained through the morning may be another benefit of making oats a regular part of a daily diet.

The role of whole-grain foods, like oatmeal, in the prevention of chronic disease is becoming more evident. While diet is just one of several factors which can affect diabetes, a study published in the Sept 2000 issue of the American Journal of Public Health suggests that the consumption of whole grain foods, like oatmeal, on a regular basis may contribute toward a reduced risk for Type 2 (adult onset) Diabetes. And Yale researchers found that eating a large bowl of oatmeal may improve the harmful reduction in blood flow that may happen after eating a high-fat meal. (Am Journal of Preventive Medicine, Feb 2001)." (via quakeroats.com)