We’ve heard since childhood just how good oatmeal is for us. It’s filled with fiber, which is not only good for our colons, it also fills us up, warding off the dreaded mid-morning hunger that leads to snacking and putting on pounds.
But with so many different varieties out there, it gets a little confusing as to which is best for us. There are three common types of oatmeal on store shelves – instant, old-fashioned and steel-cut – explains Allison Knott, registered dietitian and co-president of the Chattanooga Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics.
Here are a few tidbits about each type:
* Instant oatmeal is partially cooked before packaging and therefore has a shorter cook time.
* Old-fashioned oats are rolled oats that are steamed and rolled prior to packaging. This results in a longer cook time than the instant oats, but only by a few minutes. Additionally, old-fashioned oats are often unflavored, which means no added sugar – a good thing – unlike their instant-oatmeal counterparts.