Autumn oatmeal: The perfect warm breakfast to start your day

How to take care of your daily diet during the initial, cooler days? As we forget the light meals typical of summer, we often turn to more filling and warming dishes. An excellent option is oatmeal with warm toppings.

Oatmeal for breakfast is an ideal choice. However, if you're running out of ideas to add variety to this dish, ensure you try the recipe for autumn oatmeal with a warming ingredient. Nothing will invigorate you in the morning quite like it (except perhaps coffee). I could enjoy oats prepared this way every day, but they are exceptionally delicious at this time of year.

You can prepare oatmeal with water or milk. The latter is definitely better for a substantial breakfast - oatmeal with milk is delightfully creamy. Simply bring the liquid to a boil, add the oats (in a 1:2 ratio), and cook over medium heat for about 10 minutes. It’s advisable to stir occasionally to prevent burning. The best pot for cooking oatmeal has a thick bottom and a non-stick coating.

Caramelised fruits are my trick for luscious, hot, yet not overly mushy oatmeal toppings. Apples and bananas are perfect choices. Heat a tablespoon of clarified butter in a pan. Add a chopped apple (no need to peel it) and cut the banana halves lengthwise (or slice them into pieces for easy arrangement in the pan). After a moment, sprinkle them with brown sugar (about 45-60 grams if you prefer sweeter toppings), and add cinnamon or a spice mix to taste. Flip to the other side and cook for a bit longer. Serve hot.

Oats are a treasure trove of nutrients. They contain large amounts of fibre, which is invaluable for properly functioning the digestive system. Thanks to beta-glucan, oatmeal helps lower cholesterol and stabilise blood sugar levels. Oats are also rich in B vitamins, vitamin E, and minerals such as magnesium, phosphorus, iron, and zinc. Regular consumption of oatmeal contributes to better digestion, strengthens the immune system, and helps maintain a healthy weight.