Porridge has become extremely popular in recent years. But not so long ago, porridge was not many people's favorite dish. However, thanks to its great health benefits, it has gained a large fan base.
Oat porridge has long since ceased to be a “boring” breakfast – and this is largely due to the fact that the re-branding of oat porridge has brought with it a number of toppings and spices. Why is porridge so healthy and how can you best refine your breakfast porridge with spices? We will answer these questions in today's blog post.
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Why is it so healthy?
Porridge is not only extremely tasty, but also very healthy. This was already known several decades ago, when oats were still served in their original form in households every day. Oats have a very high protein content and are full of vitamins, minerals and fiber.
The fiber contained in oats ensures that our blood sugar level remains constant and results in a long-lasting feeling of satiety. In addition, the porridge is enjoyed warm and is therefore easy to digest. And as we have already told you in other posts, a warm breakfast is probably the best way to start the day healthy.
This is because the body does not have to warm up the “cold” breakfast first, thus requiring extra energy. By consuming warm food, you save energy, so to speak, which helps your digestion and your energy levels for the day.
If you like to eat gluten-free for breakfast but don't want to miss out on porridge, you could try this recipe. Gluten-free porridge with apple and cinnamon – this way you can easily refine your porridge with spices – delicious and an absolute vitamin bomb to boot.
Oats as a superfood?
The real star of porridge, the ingredient that makes it so healthy, is the oats. Oats are easy to digest and have a positive influence on our intestinal flora. They also contain important nutrients such as vitamins B1 and B6, as well as zinc, iron and magnesium.
So in terms of nutrients, it is a real superfood. Oats also provide you with lots of good fiber, which keeps you full for a long time and is easy to digest. You can find out more about this in our blog post about the superfood oats and its effect on the body.
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Which spices go well with it?
These days, a number of spices are no longer difficult to find – and there are an infinite number of them anyway. If you are now wondering how to find your way through the spice jungle, we will give you the right answers.
There are a few things that go well with any porridge. There are two camps: sugar and salt. If you would like to sweeten your porridge a little, you can add a little sugar. (But we recommend using a sugar alternative, such as agave syrup, instead of sugar!) A pinch of salt, on the other hand, gives your morning breakfast porridge extra flavor – not “salty”, but rather “fresh”. How about the following recipe?
Now that we have discussed the classic seasonings, there are of course also more unusual ones. If you are more on the exotic side, you could try cocoa, for example. This gives your porridge a chocolaty note and the little sweetness that you might like to have in the morning. Something a little more classic but no less delicious is cinnamon, for example. Cinnamon is an all-rounder and tastes good to almost everyone.
Toppings add zest to your porridge
But it's not just spices that make your porridge a real hit. Although you could call spices toppings, we don't count them as such here.
A classic among all toppings is probably the apple. The apple goes well with our porridge in all its forms, whether grated or sliced. What's also great about apples is that they are available regionally almost all year round. Most of the fiber and vitamins are in the peel. Therefore, it is always better to leave the peel on and not to peel it.
Berries – porridge can be pimped with any berries, from raspberries to blueberries or strawberries. These little fruits are perfect in our delicious porridge. However, we recommend buying the berries fresh only during the berry season, i.e. in the summer months. For the rest of the year, we recommend either freezing them whole or pureed, depending on your preference.
Nuts are also a very healthy and delicious topping – whether cashews, walnuts, hazelnuts or almonds. You simply can't go wrong with nuts as a topping. They provide many important and healthy fats and contribute to a healthy and balanced diet. Nuts are also good for the heart and circulation. Carbohydrates and fiber are also found in abundance in a wide variety of nuts. They are therefore a real superfood.
The currant is a regional favorite, which is why we would like to give special mention to this small berry. It comes in either red, white or black. What's special about this berry is that just 35 individual currants cover a person's daily requirement of vitamin C. The pomegranate is similar – and not just in appearance. These small berries are also very rich in vitamins and nutrients. A real superfood. But here, too, you should be careful, because, like other exotic fruits, the pomegranate often travels long distances.
These toppings, along with spices, are a great way to refine your porridge.
A healthy start to the day with the right spices
With the right spices and toppings, you can start the day feeling invigorated and, above all, healthy. This is especially important because a healthy breakfast fills your reserves for the day ahead. A good breakfast lays the foundation for a good day.
