Clean Eating Day 11: Banana Oatmeal

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Oatmeal isn’t photogenic, but it is delicious.

I can’t lie to you guys. I’ve been riding the struggle bus the last few days with this clean eating business. It turns out that I’m a social person whose favorite activities involve eating with others. Does this sound familiar to you? I’ve been eating at friends’ homes, eating out at restaurants, and drinking water instead of beer at local music venues. There’s been a lot of temptation that I’ve avoided, but also a few meals where I probably could have made better choices.

Even with a few iffy meals over the past few days, I try not to beat myself up when it comes to my progress. For one thing, I’m still alcohol-, coffee-, and dessert-free since January 2nd. And one cup of French Onion Soup does not mean that you’ve blown up your whole plan. True story.

I know that you know that breakfast is the most important meal. It is also a great way for me to set the tone for how I eat for the rest of the day. If I grab an egg and cheese biscuit on the way into the office, I seem to keep wanting to treat myself. Chocolate? No big deal? Pizza for lunch? Great! Starting the day with something healthy prompts me to keep making good choices. If I have some extra time in the morning, I like to skip the smoothie and go for a bowl of oatmeal that is loaded with goodies. Oatmeal is super filling and a nice, warm treat when it’s 20 degrees outside. My favorite recipe can be made with pantry staples and is frequently requested at my house. I hope you’ll try it when you need a break from those smoothies ^[5]!

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I always have what I need on hand for this recipe.

Print Recipe ^[7]

Banana Coconut Oatmeal

Yield: 2

Prep Time: 5 minutes

Cook Time: 15 minutes

Total Time: 20 minutes

Ingredients:

• 1 tsp coconut oil
• 1 large banana
• 2 cups nondairy milk, or a blend of milk and water
• 1 cup rolled oats
• 1/4 tsp cinnamon
• 2 TB peanut butter

Directions:

1. Melt 1 tsp of coconut oil in a saucepan over medium heat.
2. Slice the banana into coins and place in the bottom of the saucepan. Make sure they do not overlap with each other in the pan because you want them to each get a little brown. Lightly fry the banana slices for 3-4 minutes.
3. With a rubber spatula, scrape up the bananas and any fruit that might be sticking to the bottom. Add the water, oatmeal, and cinnamon. Bring to a boil.
4. Once the oatmeal is boiling, turn the heat to low and cover the pot with a lid. It will depend on the instructions on your package of oatmeal, but it should take 10-20 minutes to cook.
5. Once the oatmeal is close to finished, stir in the peanut butter.
6. Serve immediately. If you are feeling really adventurous, drizzle some honey on top first.