Beware the unhealthy oatmeal
By Tom Perry Gannett
Pumpkin pecan oatmeal
Oatmeal is very healthy. But you do have to pay attention to what you add in,“ said Diane McIlhon, a licensed dietitian at the Mercy Weight Loss & Nutrition Center in Clive, Iowa. Consider that the following recipe from Quaker Oats has 330 calories per serving. Serves 4. 3 cups water 1 teaspoon pumpkin pie spice 1/4 teaspoon salt (optional) 2 cups oats (quick or old fashioned, uncooked) 1 cup canned pumpkin (not pumpkin pie filling) 1/3 cup firmly packed brown sugar One 8-ounce container vanilla low-fat or nonfat yogurt 3 tablespoons coarsely chopped toasted
Finding a dietitian or nutritionist to bad-mouth oatmeal — unless it was in a cookie — would have been difficult just a year ago. But this winter, McDonald’s rolled out Fruit & Maple Oatmeal and some food critics complained that the product was deceptively unhealthy. The 280 calories in the product, “is only 10 fewer calories than a McDonald’s cheeseburger or Egg McMuffin,” a New York Times writer observed. Still, some see it as positive that a fast-food company has placed a food as nutritious as oatmeal in the spotlight. The more consumers who look at oatmeal and give it a chance, the better, said Diane McIlhon, a licensed dietitian at the Mercy Weight Loss & Nutrition Center in Clive, Iowa.
“A whole-wheat cereal with milk is going to be very good for you,” she said. “But with oatmeal, you get the fiber, and
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pecans In medium saucepan, bring water, pie spice and salt to a boil; stir in oats. Return to a boil; reduce heat to medium. Cook 1 minute for quick oats, 5 minutes for old fashioned oats or until most of liquid is absorbed, stirring occasionally. Stir in pumpkin and brown sugar; cook 1 minute. Let stand until desired consistency. Spoon oatmeal into four cereal bowls. Top with yogurt and pecans. Microwave directions: In 3-quart microwaveable bowl, combine water, pie spice, salt and oats. Microwave on high 6 to 7 minutes for quick oats and 9 to 10 minutes for old fashioned oats or until most of liquid is absorbed. Stir in pumpkin.
that is going to make you feel full longer.” While some have been highly critical