Oats get a lot of great press for lowering cholesterol and having lots of fiber.  But these benefits really only come from oats that are not super-processed, i.e., not instant oats in a packet.  “Real” oats are called steel cut or Irish oats and can be found in any health food store, and maybe even some groceries.  But they take 20-30 minutes to cook, otherwise it feels like you’re grinding down your teeth with little pebbles.

So here’s the trick: the night before, combine your oats and water and bring to a boil (you can do this while you’re cooking dinner).  As soon as the water boils, cover the pot and take it off the heat.  Now leave it on the stovetop overnight.  In the morning, put the pot back over heat and bring it to a boil.  As soon as it boils (about two minutes), take it off the heat, add some protein powder, Splenda or stevia or whatever other flavorings float your boat and voila! Nearly instant oatmeal with all the benefits of whole oats.

Which reminds me: another trick I’ve learned is that protein powder tends to gum up into little balls if you add it immediately to something super hot (like coffee).  Wait until the oats are a little cooled off, then add the protein about a 1/3 of a scoop at a time instead of all at once, stirring after each addition.  That way, the protein melts into the food instead of glomming up into unattractive, unappetizing blobs.