by Joyce Priddy

Created on: February 14, 2009   Last Updated: February 15, 2009

Hot and delicious oatmeal brings back some very fond memories from my childhood. During the cold months of the year, I would love a hot bowl of freshly cooked oatmeal. After working with my nutritionist, I have learned that oatmeal is extremely healthy for you. In fact, oatmeal is a health food. What are some great ways to add oatmeal to your diet and your family's diet?

Add Oatmeal to Meatloaf Recipes to Increase Flavor

One fun way to add oatmeal to your family's diet is with meatloaf recipes. Oatmeal is great filler that tastes delicious in meatloaf. You don't even have to cook the oatmeal first.

Just add a half cup of oatmeal to one pound of ground turkey or ground beef for your meatloaf recipe. Your family will love the taste and enjoy the health benefits of oatmeal while staying healthy without even realizing it.

Add Meatloaf to Sausage Ball Appetizers

One variation of the traditional sausage ball appetizers made with Bisquick and cheese is to use oatmeal. Trust me! It really does taste quite good. It gives the sausage meatballs a unique flavor and texture. You use the same proportion of oatmeal as you would normally use with the Bisquick for the sausage ball appetizers.

You, family and friends will get the benefit of oatmeal in an otherwise rather unhealthy, but popular, appetizer. The good news is you will be helping increase health and lower lipids while everyone is enjoying the great taste of the appetizers.

Add Oatmeal to Dessert Recipes for Healthy Alternative

There are tons of great dessert recipes available on the Internet and from traditional cookbooks. You can substitute oatmeal or even add oatmeal as a delicious ingredient to many different dessert recipes. This means that while the family and friends are enjoying the delicious taste of dessert, you are actually cooking with a health food.

My family really enjoys the different desserts that I have found over the Internet that have oatmeal in them. They taste so good. I also like that they don't cost a fortune to cook and make for my family.

Quick Meal for the Family in a Hurry Using Oatmeal and Fruit

Oatmeal doesn't just have to be for breakfast anymore. It makes a wonderful quick meal for the family that is in a hurry. You can buy the quick cook version of oatmeal and use the microwave to make individual bowls or you can make a large pot of delicious oatmeal. I like the microwave because it saves energy and is so fast to fix a good helping of oatmeal for the family.

Instead of just plain oatmeal, you can add different types of chopped fruit into the oatmeal to give it more texture and flavor. One of my husband's favorite fruits for me to add to his oatmeal is pitted, chopped prunes, dates or apricots. It really adds to the flavor of oatmeal and can make it a true family favorite as quick meal for a family in a hurry.

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