Oatmeal with Kefir

I hope you had a wonderful Thanksgiving last Thursday! (And I hope you aren't too sick of turkey sandwiches and turkey soup!)

Today I'm sharing one of my favorite breakfasts: oatmeal with kefir. It's delicious and healthy, especially when you add dried fruit, chia seeds, chopped nuts, and other good stuff!



And for those of you who don't know what kefir is, it's basically a cross between milk and yogurt. It's made by fermenting milk with live and active cultures (basically healthy bacteria), which are super good for you. I use Trader Joe's kefir -- low fat, plain, and unsweetened. It has 12 live and active cultures and it's a great source of calcium and vitamin D!

One of the best things about having oatmeal for breakfast in the morning is that it takes less than five minutes to make! Plus it's good in the colder months when you want something warm to get you going in the morning (though I eat it for breakfast all summer, too!).

Oatmeal with Kefir

Ingredients

• 1/3 cup rolled oats
• 1/3 cup milk
• 1/3 cup kefir
• fruit of your choice (fresh or frozen)
• 1 tsp chia seeds
• handful of chopped pecans (or nut of your choice)
• sprinkle of unsweetened, shredded coconut
• drizzle of maple syrup or honey

Combine the oats and milk in a deep microwavable bowl. (If not deep enough, the oatmeal will overflow in the microwave, so keep an eye on it!) Microwave for two minutes.

Remove the bowl from the microwave and stir the oatmeal. Add an extra tablespoon of milk if needed. If adding any frozen fruit, stir it in now. Return to the microwave for another thirty seconds.

Add the kefir to the oats and stir. Return to the microwave for about 10 seconds.

Add fresh fruit, chia seeds, nuts, coconut, and sweetener.