Porridge or oatmeals have been around for centuries. Nevertheless, the oat flakes used to make the porridge have only become extremely popular in recent years. So what is it about porridge and is it really such a good, healthy breakfast?
Here we show you how you can easily prepare porridge yourself and why oats are so healthy for us!
Discover the porridge variety from Verival
What makes porridge so popular?
Oatmeal originally comes from Scotland, where it was mainly eaten for breakfast by working-class families. Nowadays, it is not only Scottish, but has even become a national dish of the British. In Germany, the porridge made from cooked oat flakes is also known as Haferschleim or Haferbrei. It is also called oatmeal or just oats.
In the past, the cereal porridge was served in hospitals for stomach complaints. But today it is probably the most popular breakfast on Instagram. This is probably due to the many ways of preparing the porridge. Porridge is not only tasty for breakfast, it has also proven to be a great snack or lunch.
This simple dish never gets boring, because you can garnish it with nuts, bananas, cinnamon or fresh fruits like blueberries, for example. The savoury versions with broccoli or pumpkin and tomato are also particularly popular. You can refine these porridge varieties with a fried egg and some chives to create a delicious dinner.
How healthy is porridge really?
One of the great things about porridge is that it keeps you full for a long time. Porridge contains quite a bit of protein, minerals, fibre and vitamins. Thanks to these nutrients, digestion is boosted and blood sugar levels are kept stable. This helps to prevent hunger pangs. Oatmeals enable you to work with concentration from breakfast to lunch.
Porridge is also a great source of magnesium. 40 grams of porridge already cover half of the daily magnesium requirement. The healthy breakfast is also very rich in iron and vitamin B6. These are necessary for the nervous system as well as for oxygen transport and energy metabolism.
In addition, porridge is a good source of vitamin B6, which is essential for the nervous and circulatory systems. Porridge also contains plenty of the vital trace element iron. Contrary to what many people assume, oats actually contain more iron than meat. By way of comparison, 100 grams of oats contain 5.4 milligrams of iron, while roast beef has 2 milligrams.
Porridge to go – overnight oats
Breakfast is considered one of the most important meals of the day and should ensure a good start to the day. However, most people skip this meal so that they can save time in the morning and sleep longer.
With a healthy overnight oats breakfast, you can save time and still get up later. This is because the oats are prepared the night before. This practical oatmeal can be eaten in your own kitchen, on the go or even in the office.
Here are the best porridge recipes
How do I prepare my breakfast for on the go?
The overnight oats are prepared in the evening so that they can soak overnight. Leave the flakes in a glass or tin in the fridge. The oats can now swell for several hours. This way, porridge is created by the next day without cooking. You can take it with you directly in the morning or enjoy it on the go.
Water, milk or yoghurt are suitable for the liquid. But you can also use milk alternatives such as almond milk, rice milk or coconut milk. As a rule of thumb, overnight oats should be prepared in a 1:2 ratio. This means that for every 100 grams of oats, 200 millilitres of liquid is added. Of course, you can adjust the ratio a little to get the consistency of overnight oats that you prefer.
Porridge can be prepared in many different ways. The Scots traditionally cook it in a pot. To do this, put the oats, a liquid of your choice and, if you like, a spoonful of honey or maple syrup to sweeten it, into a pot and bring to the boil. Then leave the porridge to simmer on a low heat for about three minutes to make it nice and creamy. Of course, you mustn't forget to stir!
You can also quickly prepare porridge in the microwave. Simply put the oats mixed with a liquid in the microwave for 3 minutes. Then stir well, let the porridge steep for about 2 minutes and it's ready! The microwave is a quick alternative for a delicious and creamy porridge.
The porridge variety from Verival
Verival offers you a wide range of porridge varieties. These include many delicious flavours such as sour cherry-cocoa, strawberry-chia porridge and coconut-apricot. At Verival, we create delicious combinations for you, lovingly prepared by hand from the best organic ingredients.
You can combine Verival's porridge variety with all milk alternatives and are therefore ideal for vegans. In addition, many of the mixtures are gluten-free and have no added sugar.
These toppings go well with porridge on the go
The toppings of the oatmeal make the whole thing really interesting. The most popular here is fruit. Whether bananas, raspberries or apples, any kind of fruit will spice up your porridge. Frozen fruit is also good in warm oatmeal, as the contrast between hot and cold offers a great taste.
Since you can either puree, chop or leave the fruit whole, you'll never get bored of making delicious porridge. If you don't like fruit, coconut flakes, nuts of all kinds ( cashews) or even healthy chia seeds are also suitable as a topping.
The healthy seeds absorb the chosen liquid well, especially in overnight oats. To add the finishing touches to your perfect oatmeal, you can flavour it with vanilla or cinnamon. The best alternative to cereal!
