I was about to title this post “The secret to staying full until lunch” but after sharing yesterday’s secrets about the perfect chocolate chip cookies, I thought that may be a bit much! Since I’m a morning runner/workout-er, I’m always starving when breakfast time rolls around, and since I work in PR, I never quite know when I’ll have time to eat my next meal! Therefore, I don’t mess around with breakfast. I have three requirements: It has to be good, filling, and fast.

Cue oatmeal! I started eating it regularly about a year ago and now I can’t get enough of it. I eat it faithfully almost every morning, and I use some great add-ins to keep me full until lunchtime comes!

After a timed stablilty ball workout that challenged my core (and arms!) this morning, I was ready for a good meal. Since I pre-make my oats for the entire week, all I had to do was dish out one serving and add some protein power to keep me full!

Three-Minute Breakfast Oatmeal
Serves one

• 1/2 c. quick oats (or 1/4 c. steel cut oats)
• 1/4-1/3 c. milk (I prefer unsweetened vanilla almond)
• 1/2 Tb. flaxmeal
• Pinch of brown sugar and cinnamon
• 1 Tb. nut butter (Natural peanut butter all the way, baby!)

1. Mix the first four ingredients in a bowl and microwave for one minute and ten seconds.
2. Stir in nut butter.
3. Enjoy!

How to “level up” this recipe:

1. Add some sliced fruit. I love chopped apples, but peaches, plums, or bananas (gag!) are also great options.
2. Use steel cut oats instead of quick oats. Since they take a while to cook, I recommend that you cook them ahead of time and have them throughout the week. Here’s a great recipe for Steel Cut Oats from Live. Love. Nutrition.
3. Use some additional add-ins such as chia seeds (a personal favorite!), flax seeds, chopped nuts, or pureed pumpkin. For more flavor, try a small amount of honey or maple syrup.

How to “level down” this recipe:

1. Not ready for straight oats yet? Go ahead and use instant oatmeal, but try to opt for the sugar-free version if you can. (Trust me, it’s cheaper to just buy quick-cooking oats, though!)
2. Add some sweeteners  Stir in raw sugar or chocolate chips for more taste. (Sometimes these are just a fun treat and a way to take the flavor up a level!)