Two more days and we’re past all of the holiday hoopla.
Life will settle back into its normal routine, kids will go back to school, we’ll un-decorate our houses, and the last vestiges of holiday food will be tossed in the freezer or the trash can.
Of course, we’ll start thinking about New Year’s resolutions, the majority of which, studies show, involve eating healthier, exercising more and losing weight.
If you want to take off a few extra pounds that came to you by way of Christmas cookies, eggnog and office party food, there’s no better place to start than at the breakfast table.
Eating breakfast is the best way to jump-start your metabolism and help you burn calories all day long.
So instead of dinner this week, here’s a recipe for a quick breakfast oatmeal from healthy eating expert and cookbook author Ellie Krieger. It comes from her book Small Changes Big Results, which recently was revised and updated and issued in a second release from its 2005 version (Clarkson Potter/softcover, $16).
APPLE CRUNCH OATMEAL
1 cup nonfat milk
½ cup old-fashioned rolled oats
½ cup diced and peeled apple
2 tsp. packed dark brown sugar
2 tbsp. granola
Put the milk, oats and apple into a saucepan over a medium-high flame, and, stirring frequently, bring to a boil. Reduce the heat to low and, stirring occasionally, cook for about 5 minutes or until the oatmeal reaches the consistency you like.
Transfer the oatmeal mixture to a cereal bowl. Stir in the brown sugar and top with the granola.
Makes 1 serving.
Lisa Abraham can be reached at 330-996-3737 or at labraham@thebeaconjournal.com. Find me on Facebook, follow me on Twitter @akronfoodie or visit my blog at www.ohio.com/blogs/lisa.
