Oat porridge is one of the oldest breakfast classics and is currently experiencing a renaissance. Oat porridge was invented in Scotland, where it is better known as porridge.
In Europe, too, the name porridge is becoming more popular. In the following article, you will learn why oat porridge is so popular and what advantages it offers.
What exactly is oat porridge?
The classic oatmeal from Scotland actually consists of only three ingredients.
- 3-4 tablespoons of rolled oats
- 180 ml of milk
- 1 pinch of salt
First, you bring the milk to a boil either in a pot or in the microwave. Then add the oat flakes and let the porridge simmer gently. Keep stirring so that the porridge gets a creamy consistency and the milk in the saucepan doesn't burn. After about five minutes, pour the porridge into a bowl and sprinkle with a pinch of salt. The classic porridge is ready.
Today's porridge is eaten and prepared in a variety of ways. There are no limits to how you can refine your porridge. For the liquid alone, everything from water to plant-based drinks, almond milk and much more is used.
Do you want your porridge to be even creamier? Then add a banana. For a little more crunch, add nuts, seeds or granola. Fresh fruit and berries are also extremely popular and give the porridge a sweet and healthy touch.
Verival specializes in developing healthy and delicious porridge specialties that you can easily prepare yourself. Do you love classic Scottish-style porridge? Then try the gluten-free Verival Classic Porridge.
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What ingredients does porridge contain?
In Great Britain and Scotland, people have always loved their porridge. This is no coincidence. Thanks to the oats, porridge contains plenty of valuable nutrients, such as minerals, dietary fibre, complex carbohydrates, vitamins and vegetable protein.
A meal like this is filling and easy on the digestion. Your body is not burdened. The warm porridge is an ideal source of energy and lets you start the day actively.
Porridge and its numerous benefits
Oat porridge is a healthy breakfast, easy on the stomach, provides important nutrients and supports a diet. If you like cereal, for example Bircher muesli, oat porridge will be a culinary delight.
Athletes benefit from improved muscle regeneration through magnesium. The blood vessels are cleaned and the immune system strengthened.
The best thing is that porridge fills you up quickly and can be prepared in so many ways. What's more, it takes very little time to prepare.
How healthy is oatmeal for breakfast?
The answer is yes. The meal contains a lot of fiber, minerals, vitamins and proteins. The fiber promotes digestion and keeps your blood sugar level constant. This means you feel fuller for longer. If you eat porridge for breakfast, you can concentrate on work until lunchtime.
40 g of porridge contains 50 percent of your daily magnesium requirement and 25 percent of your daily vitamin B1 requirement. These substances promote muscle building and strengthen the nerves.
Porridge also provides you with plenty of vitamin B6, which is good for the blood and nerves. It also contains a lot of iron, which is essential for the transport of oxygen and the metabolism of energy. There is more than twice as much iron in oats as in meat. The porridge is easy on your stomach and provides the body with biotin and silicon, which are essential for beautiful hair and skin.
Research has shown that this dish can lower cholesterol and have a positive effect on blood sugar levels due to its healthy active ingredients. Beta-glucan in particular is said to play a role in this, as it ensures that the food bolus flows better through the digestive system.
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Is there a difference between porridge and oatmeal?
No. The name porridge is simply the English term for oat porridge. The British prepare porridge in exactly the same way as we do.
The only differences are in the seasoning, sweetness or garnish, depending on personal taste.
Can porridge help you lose weight?
Oat porridge can definitely help you lose weight. This is because the cereal porridge satisfies you longer than a breakfast sandwich and you don't need any snacks until lunchtime.
This effect was confirmed by scientists at the American College of Nutrition. They compared the satiation of porridge and conventional breakfast cereals. It turned out that the porridge was more filling and also had a positive effect on feelings of hunger. This can be attributed to the increased protein and fiber content.
Porridge has a varying calorie level depending on the method of preparation and the type of nutrients. Porridge prepared with water is the lowest in calories, but at the same time contains less fiber and protein than preparations with nuts or fruits.
Use porridge toppings sparingly, but be sure to use them. An oat meal dish is even more filling when it contains fresh fruit, chia seeds and nuts. Preparing the meal with milk instead of water increases the protein content, but also the fat and calorie content. You can use milk alternatives such as rice milk, almond milk, oat milk, coconut milk and many more.
What you should definitely know about oatmeal
Porridge comes from Scotland and was a typical breakfast for working-class families. It now has the status of a national dish in Great Britain. In Germany, we also know porridge prepared with water or milk as oat gruel, and Americans call it oatmeal.
A few years ago, porridge was still considered a bland-tasting home remedy for stomach disorders. Today, social networks and numerous websites are full of recipe tips for this meal. This dish can be combined in many different ways.
A really good porridge needs a tasty topping. Almost anything goes here: nuts, nut butter, honey, kernels, seeds, fruit, berries, chia, cinnamon or grated coconut can be used to refine the dish. So it never gets boring.
Oats are considered a superfood and porridge can be prepared in no time. Oats, water or milk are the basic ingredients. Water makes the porridge lower in calories, but milk gives the dish more sweetness and creaminess. It is also possible to mix water and milk in a 50:50 ratio. An interesting flavor is created by rice-coconut milk.
Simply make porridge yourself
Avoid huge portions. A quantity of 50 g of oats is recommended, however healthy the dish is. A larger dose of oats in combination with milk and toppings can quickly exceed 500 calories.
You can save calories by using almond milk (unsweetened) instead of regular milk. It has only 13 calories per 100ml and tastes very good.
If you are in a particular hurry, Verival porridges are recommended. They are free from added sugars and additives. They support a healthy lifestyle and are available in different varieties.
