Most of us are familiar with rolled oats as a hot breakfast cereal. The truth is, rolled oats are a very versatile food and shouldn’t be limited to just breakfast food. They have a pleasant, nutty flavor and can be used in many recipes to add nutritional value such as:

• Cooked as a breakfast cereal.
• Added to a pancake batter.
• Added raw to granola or muesli mixes.
• Used to make oatmeal cookies.
• Easily added to muffin or bread mixes.

In addition to being very versatile, oats are highly nutritious and filled with cholesterol-fighting soluble fiber. Diets low in saturated fat and cholesterol and rich in products that contain some types of dietary fiber, particularly soluble fiber, may reduce the risk of heart disease and some types of cancer.

Rolled oats are oat groats that are steamed, rolled, and flaked so that they cook quickly. Rolled oats are more commonly sold as oatmeal. Look for rolled oats in the bulk grains section of your grocery store or food co-op. I usually buy Bob’s Red Mill brand.