Fast Food Oatmeal??

I totally 'get' the whole concept of Fast Food! I am most certainly not a fan but I do understand why so many people just can't live with out it. You drive up, place your order, and dine on a meal in a bag. It's an unhealthy meal, no matter how they try to convince you  it isn't. Unless you have been hiding under a rock, you already know this.

What I don't understand is the whole Fast Food Oatmeal Craze. First of all, we've already determined that McDonald's oatmeal is far from healthy. And now, Burger King has jumped on the band wagon and has introduced oatmeal to their repertoire of fast food fare. 

Here's the article:

Burger King Introduces Oatmeal

Oatmeal, no matter where you buy it, is not fast food. You can't really eat it while driving to work. You're not supposed to be steering your car with your knees as you hold a hot container of oatmeal in one hand and a spoon in the other. That's why the Egg McMuffin and Croissan'wich were created!  For years, I sat beside people with their messy egg sandwiches or bagels with cream cheese during my morning commute on the LIRR.  Not once have I ever seen any one open up a container of oatmeal and eat it while riding the rail.

So why on earth is McDonald's and Burger King rolling out oatmeal? Fast Food is for fast people--people on the run!  Imagine trying to balance a bowl of oatmeal while racing down the street to catch a bus! I don't get it. Unless you plan on taking a few minutes to actually sit back and enjoy it in your car or in the restaurant, what's the point? Perhaps you plan on bringing it to the office and eating at your desk while you read your morning emails.  If that's the case, why waste time stopping at McDonald's or Burger King to get your morning oatmeal?  Why not just make it yourself and bring it with you?

Oatmeal really is quick and simple to make and for the cost of one serving from a Fast Food joint, you can buy a whole box of your own rolled oats. Set it on the stove as you're getting ready for work or prepare it the night before.  Reheat it the next morning or invest in a wide-mouthed thermos, pour it in, and you are good to go!

Perfect Oatmeal

1/2 cup of rolled oats (not instant oats- they are useless)
1 cup of water
dash of salt
dash of ground cinnamon
Sweetener of your choice

Follow cooking directions for either stove or microwave method. When it's fully cooked, toss in a few goodies. I love to add a handful of almonds or chopped walnuts and some raisins. Sometimes I mix in the raisins as the oatmeal cooks so they get nice and plump. Then I add in a splash of vanilla almond milk (you can use soy or regular milk, as well) and a dash of maple syrup for extra sweetness. If I have fresh blueberries or strawberries, I toss those in and eliminate the extra sweetener. Then I pour it into a thermos and go! It stays hot until I am ready to enjoy it.

The beauty of this is-- I know exactly what's in my oatmeal because I made it. It's cheap, it's nourishing and as long as my lid is nice and secure, it's perfectly portable. Probably even more so than oatmeal packaged in a styrofoam or cardboard container  from a fast food restaurant.

Simple pleasures, people. There's no need to make life so complicated. Don't buy the lie that you don't have time to make your own food. You do have time.

Make your own oatmeal. Eat at home or bring it with you. It's good, it's nourishing, and with winter right around the corner, oatmeal is a stick-to-your-ribs breakfast that will keep you warm and give you energy for hours.

And this is my Daily Cyn........