For this week’s Blackboard Special, fourth-year CCIT and English double major Christine Sharma has provided her recipe for healthy oatmeal.
Sharma is currently a vlogger for UTMental’s third season. UTMental is an HCC initiative that involves students sharing their thoughts and encouraging conversations regarding mental health through vlogs. This year, the vloggers include five diverse UTM students, including Andrew Fenech (a member of UTM’s Green Team) and Connor Fitzpatrick (a fourth-year biology Ph.D. student). Each student is assigned to a specific day—for example, Sharma’s first vlog for the season was released last Friday.
So why don’t you kick back—with a bowl of Sharma’s recommended healthy oatmeal—and check out her first vlog? I will—as soon as I can find out what chia seeds are.
Easy Oatmeal
Serves 2
Ingredients
- ½ cup water
- 1/3 cup plain quick oats (any brand)
- 1 banana
- 1–2 tsp honey
- Berries, any kind
- Pinch of chia or flax seeds
- 1 tbsp peanut butter or seed butter (Sharma recommends seed butter from Bulk Barn, as its “great if you’re allergic to nuts”.)
Method
- Pour plain quick oats into a container (Sharma suggests using your favourite bowl or a microwavable to-go container). Shake slightly to level them out.
- Pour water evenly over oats, ensuring that water reaches about 1 cm above oat-level.
- Heat the mixture in the microwave for about 1 minute 15 seconds. Peek into the microwave every few seconds to ensure that the oats do not overflow. Remove the container from the microwave.
- Dollop peanut or seed butter and drizzle honey on top of the mixture. Wait for a few seconds to allow the mixture to melt, then mix until smooth.
- Slice a banana over top of oat mixture.
- Add handful of berries.
- Sprinkle chia or flax seeds.
- Serve immediately or take to-go! It’s best when it’s hot or warm.
