Food Quick & Easy 4 Delicious Ways to Power Your Day with Oats Humans have eaten wild oats for millennia—but we were surprisingly slow to cultivate them. Perhaps the ancients should have tried these recipes. By Hannah Agran Hannah Agran Hannah Agran is executive editor at Midwest Living, where she oversees travel, food, home, garden and culture content. Born in Wisconsin, raised in Ohio, and now living in Iowa, she's a proud lifelong Midwesterner (aside from that stint in Massachusetts for a B.A. in American Studies from Brandeis University). On her off time, she loves to travel, here and abroad. (A perfect trip involves hiking, art museums and pastries, in equal measure.) At home, she's either puttering in the kitchen or garden--or on the couch with her cat, Clementine, bingeing a good show when she should be reading her book club book. Midwest Living's Editorial Guidelines Updated on November 27, 2023 Photo: Carson Downing Breakfast Boost: Toasted Oatmeal For morning oatmeal with heartier texture and nuttier flavor, toast the oats. Over medium heat, cook rolled oats in a dry skillet—or for a splurge, in bubbling, just-browning butter—until they smell toasty, a few minutes. (If dry-toasting, the color won't change. Trust your nose.) Then prepare your oatmeal as usual. If you eat oatmeal regularly, you can toast a big batch of oats on a sheet pan in a 325° oven for 10 minutes; store in an airtight container. Carson Downing Sweet Drink: Oat Horchata Served across the Spanish-speaking world, horchata is a sweet and cinnamony drink typically made with rice or almonds. This creamy version uses oats. Dust with additional cinnamon and/or serve with a stick of cinnamon for a flavor boost. Get the recipe. Easy, Breezy Drinks to Keep You Cool Carson Downing Anytime Topper: Savory Spiced Granola Don't serve this granola with milk! Use it to garnish salads, roasted veggies, sauteed greens or mashed sweet potatoes. (Or just snack on it. So good!) Get the recipe. Healthy Snack Recipes Carson Downing Easy Snack: Oat Bars with Ginger and Coconut Inspired by an English treat called a flapjack, these buttery bars have crisp edges and are chewy in the center. Get the recipe. Our Best Bar Cookies Common Questions About Oats, Answered Our Test Kitchen weighs in. Are Oats Good for Weight Loss? Yes! If you're looking to lose weight, lower cholesterol, manage diabetes and be good to your heart, eat more oats. They're loaded in nutrients, especially fiber. What's the Difference Between Old-Fashioned and Quick-Cooking Oats? Old-fashioned and quick-cooking rolled oats are both made by flattening oat groats. Slower-cooking steel-cut oats are just chopped up. Are Oats Gluten-Free? Oats are naturally gluten-free. But they may come in contact with gluten-containing foods in processing. Always check the label. Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Tell us why! Other Submit