The Quick Trick For Fruity Oatmeal Without Any Prep

Some mornings just remembering how to make coffee right after you roll out of bed can be a struggle, so any kind of easy shortcut to making a breakfast that is both nutritious and delicious is appreciated. One especially filling breakfast option is oatmeal, with its many vitamins and nutrients and its ample amount of fiber. Add fruit and nuts to your bowl and you'll have an even better start to your day. However, you are also adding a few steps to your morning routine that you might not quite have the energy for.

Thankfully, there is an easy way to upgrade the oatmeal from boring to splendid, and it doesn't involve reaching into the cupboard to grab a package of sugary instant oatmeal. The answer also isn't spending hours prepping in advance, but rather the trick lies in having the right ingredients on hand to transform your oatmeal into something special

Add frozen or dried fruit

The secret to making the fruity oatmeal you're craving requires no prep work if you have frozen fruit in your freezer or dried fruit in your cupboard.

Already washed, peeled, and sliced, frozen fruit only needs to be combined with your oatmeal before you cook it in the microwave for a quick and easy breakfast. You'll be happy to learn a 2019 study by the University of Georgia and the Frozen Food Foundation found that frozen fruit often has either equal or more nutritional benefits when compared to fresh. If you're looking to add vitamins like C and B, fiber, and antioxidants to your breakfast, consider adding fruits like cherries, papayas, mangos, bananas, and berries. 

Frozen fruit will last months in the freezer: anywhere from about 2 to 3 months for bananas and 10 to 18 months for berries and melons. If you're short on freezer space, dried fruit can also make a great addition to a bowl of oatmeal, from pieces of apple to sliced dates to whole cranberries. 

When it comes to enjoying an easy fruity bowl of oatmeal, the secret lies not in some elaborate recipe, but in what you have on hand in your freezer or cupboard.