Ingredients:
BASIC RECIPE FOR A SINGLE SERVING PACKET:
1/3 cup rolled oats (instant or quick); old fashioned oats may be used for microwave and refrigerator oatmeal
1 teaspoon chia seeds or ground flaxseed (optional)
2 teaspoons oat bran (or wheat germ/bran)
2 teaspoons powdered milk (omit for non-dairy, vegan)
1 to 3 teaspoons brown sugar, sucanat, pure maple sugar, coconut sugar, or other preferred sweetener
1/8 teaspoon cinnamon
pinch of salt
OPTIONAL ADD INS (see suggested flavor varieties in directions):
dried or freeze dried fruit, chopped
chopped nuts (pecans, walnuts, almonds, macademia nuts)
PB2 powdered peanut butter
cocoa powder
instant coffee or espresso powder
sweet spices (cinnamon, nutmeg, cardamon, cloves)
ground vanilla beans (dry powder)
Directions:
Combine basic recipe ingredients in individual zip top bags. Add additional flavor ingredients, if desired--see suggestions below.
To prepare 1 serving of hot oatmeal:
- BOILING WATER METHOD (not recommended for old fashioned oats): Add 1 oatmeal packet to mug or bowl. Pour in 2/3 cups boiling water and stir. Let instant oats stand for 3-4 minutes to soften and thicken; stir, and they are ready to eat. Quick oats may need to soften an additional minute or two.
- MICROWAVE METHOD: Add 1 oatmeal packet and 3/4 cup cold water to microwave safe mug or bowl. (The container needs to be large enough to allow for mixture to expand while it cooks. It can bubble up and double in size in the microwave.) For instant oats, cook uncovered on high for 1 minute; stir, and it's ready to eat. For quick oats, cook on high for 2 minutes, let stand 2 minutes, stir, and it's ready to heat. NOTE: Microwave power and cooking times can vary; adjust cooking time if necessary.
To prepare 1 serving of refrigerator oatmeal:
Add one oatmeal packet to a pint or half-pint jar (or other covered container). Pour in 1/2 cup cold water, add 1/4 cup plain, Greek yogurt, cover tightly, and shake vigorously until well mixed. Refrigerate at least 4 hours, overnight, or up to 3 days.
12 FLAVOR VARIATIONS (use the basic recipe ingredients, plus these additions):
- Plain -- Use basic recipe ingredients.
- Apple Cinnamon Maple -- 2 tablespoons dried or 1/4 cup freeze-dried chopped apples; additional 1/4 teaspoon cinnamon; use maple sugar for sweetener
- Blueberry -- 2 tablespoons dried or 1/4 cup freeze-dried blueberries.
- Cherry Almond -- 2 tablespoons dried or 1/4 tablespoons freeze-dried cherries; 1 tablespoon sliced or slivered almonds.
- Apricot Ginger -- 2 tablespoons chopped dried apricots; 1 teaspoon minced crystallized ginger.
- Cranberry Orange Pecan -- 2 tablespoons dried cranberries, 1 teaspoon dried orange peel bits, 1 tablespoon chopped pecans.
- Pineapple Coconut -- 2 tablespoons dried or 1/4 cup freeze-dried chopped dried pineapple, 1 tablespoon freeze-dried coconut
- Raspberry Vanilla Bean-- 2 tablespoons dried or 1/4 cup freeze-dried raspberries, 1/4 teaspoon ground vanilla powder
- Peach (or Mango) Macademia Nut -- 2 tablespoons chopped dried peaches (or mangos), 1 tablespoon chopped macadamia nuts
- Cocoa Banana -- 1/4 cup chopped freeze-dried bananas (dried banana chips not recommended), 2 teaspoons cocoa powder
- Peanut Butter Banana -- 1/4 cup chopped freeze-dried bananas (dried banana chips not recommended), 1 tablespoon PB2 peanut butter powder
- Mocha -- 1 teaspoon cocoa powder, 1/2 teaspoon instant espresso powder
Instant Oatmeal Packets ~ Frugal Food Storage Project
Make your own individual instant oatmeal packets in a variety of flavors. An easy, make-ahead, healthy on-the-go breakfast or snack for work, travel, camping, and college dorms, or those busy mornings when there's no time to make breakfast. Use packets for hot or refrigerator oatmeal.
Make-ahead convenience. These bags may be made, tightly sealed, and stored for several months, depending on the shelf life of the ingredients used. May be stored in freezer to extend their life further.
To make oatmeal packets gluten-free, use gluten-free oats and oat bran.
Nutritional data for the basic oatmeal packets (without fruit or nuts). There is 1-1/2 teaspoons of brown sugar for the sweetener in these calculations. For one plain oatmeal packet: 160 calories, 2.8g fat, 53mg sodium, 28.6g carbs, 3.9g fiber, 7.6g sugars, 6.5g protein. Weight Watchers PointsPlus: 4.
