Are Instant Oats As Nutritious As Rolled or Steel Cut Oats?
What are the health benefits of instant oatmeal vs rolled/steel cut?
Which oatmeal should I be eating?
Oats are a very popular choice for breakfast food across the world. They are low in fat, highly nutritious and contain vitamins and minerals making them an easy choice to start off your day.
Many wonder if instant oats are just as nutritious as rolled and steel cut oats.
Rolled and steel cut oats are a less processed form of oats that usually take longer to cook. They tend to have a chewier texture than instant oats.
Instant oats tend to have a mushier texture and are quicker to prepare because when they are pre-cooked, they are pressed thinner and retain less of their texture.
Instant oats do have a similar nutritional value to regular oats, but where we tend to run into a problem is the sugar and salt that is typically added to enhance the flavor. Instant oats have gone through more processing than other varieties so some of the nutrients, fiber and protein have been taken out. Your body tends to digest instant oats more quickly which can cause your blood sugar to rise faster.
If you stick to traditional rolled oats, you have control over what is added to the cereal. Instead of reaching for a pre-packaged bag of oats, or 1-min quick oats, I recommend you cook your own and add in things like protein powder, fruit, yogurt, honey, chia seeds and nuts to create a breakfast that will fill up and fuel your body.
If you do need to go the instant oats route, look for brands that are unflavored as they usually have a lower sugar content. I approve of my clients eating these everyday as long as they are adding more protein and fat to keep them full until the next meal.
