instant oatmeal

[turbine5]

Hi, I've been eating unflavoured instant oatmeal in the mornings or for snacks, but I just read somewhere that I should avoid it in favor of the old fashioned stuff. Can somebody tell me what the difference is? I know to avoid the flavored instant stuff that is loaded with sugar, but I thought the unflavoured stuff was ok.

Thanks

 

[GoalGetter]

Hi, I've been eating unflavoured instant oatmeal in the mornings or for snacks, but I just read somewhere that I should avoid it in favor of the old fashioned stuff. Can somebody tell me what the difference is? I know to avoid the flavored instant stuff that is loaded with sugar, but I thought the unflavoured stuff was ok.

Thanks

As opposed to a bag of potato chips or a candy bar as a snack, unflavored instant oatmeal is great.

The reason some people will say that you should opt for the old-fashioned oats, or better yet the steel cut oats is that they are less processed, and therefore retain more of the nutrients, so you're getting more "bang for your buck" in terms of nutrients.

same goes for white rice vs. brown rice - the macros might look the same, but the vitamins, minerals, etc will be much higher in the unprocessed than in the processed.

Jodi or Emma can shed more light on the subject later, with more specific info, but this is the gist of it.

 

[Purdue Power]

I always go for the big containers of Quaker Old Fashioned Oats. I get the huge double box at Sam's or Costco. It is one of the best sources of clean carbs, in my opinion.

 

[GoalGetter]

...I get the huge double box at Sam's or Costco...

Arguably the best-spent $7.00 of my life when I used to go to costco!

 

[The Monkey Man]

I'll wait for the experts to chime in with a scientific Einstein answer...

...

 

[GoalGetter]

I'll wait for the experts to chime in with a scientific Einstein answer...

...

damn. what a dis.

the rest of us non-experts are no good for you monkey man?

 

[thajeepster]

not only are the regular oats better for you, they are far cheaper also... i can get like 5 lbs for only 3 or 4 bucks.

that'd only get you maybe 2 boxes of the instant stuff.

 

[grant]

I think the problem that most have is that it's more of a processed product and has a much higher rating on the glycemic index than rolled or steel-cut oats

 

[turbine5]

thanks for all the info everyone

 

[luke77]

What about quick-cooking (not instant) oats vs. regular rolled oats? I know that the gi may be slightly higher because they are "shredded up" more, but wouldn't they contain the same amount of nutrients as rolled oats since they are made from the same ingredients, just cut differently? I love rolled oats, my mom just bought some of the quick-cooking and that's why I ask.

 

[Emma-Leigh]

What about quick-cooking (not instant) oats vs. regular rolled oats? I know that the gi may be slightly higher because they are "shredded up" more, but wouldn't they contain the same amount of nutrients as rolled oats since they are made from the same ingredients, just cut differently? I love rolled oats, my mom just bought some of the quick-cooking and that's why I ask.

Yeah - they are the same, only they have been cut smaller and steamed a little more than the thick cut rolled oats.