Breakfast can be a pricey meal. It's a meal that motivates heavy advertising from big food manufacturers, because they know it's hard for people to eat breakfast in the morning and consumers will pay more for convenience. But these conveniences come with a cost — have you looked at cereal prices lately? Yikes! If you're pinching pennies, here are three ways to get that convenient breakfast for less — and all three have one thing in common: Oats.
Yes, what are the three major breakfast items that go for a lot in the grocery store? Cold cereal, granola bars, and instant oatmeal. Instead of buying these — make them. You'll save some money and have a healthier end product. Here's a look at all three.
1. Cold Cereal (Granola)
Cold cereal is a sticker-shock item. $6 for a box of fluffy sugar puffs? Wow. Homemade granola is tastier and more filling, and while it can still be on the expensive side (especially when it's full of nuts and dried fruits) it can save you money. Here's our cost analysis of granola:
And a couple recipes:
• Peanut Butter and Honey Granola (pictured above)
• Olive Oil Granola
• 15 Recipes, Tips & Ideas for Delicious Homemade Granola
2. Granola Bars
Granola bars are another item that really racks up at the grocery store. $5 for a few little wads of oats and peanuts, glued together with high fructose corn syrup. You can do better than that! Here's the breakdown of making homemade granola bars, costwise:
And some recipes...
• Recipe: Crunchy Granola Bars
• 4-Ingredient Banana Oat Bars
• Copycat Recipe: DIY Nutri-Grain Fruit and Nut Bars
3. Instant Oatmeal
We don't have a cost breakdown for homemade vs. storebought instant oatmeal, but the savings here are pretty significant. This is perhaps the easiest project, too. Here are the instructions:
• How To Make Your Own Flavored Instant Oatmeal (pictured above)
• Good Question: How To Make DIY Instant Oatmeal?
What are your favorite ways to save money on breakfast?
Related: Danny Seo's 5 Tips for Saving Money at the Organic Grocery
(Images: Faith Durand; Sarah Rae Trover)
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Cooking old fashioned oats on the stove top is quicker than many people think, too! Almost every morning, I put a handful (around half a cup) of oats into a small metal pan, pour enough water so the oats are covered, and cook until it's done (less than 5 minutes). Then I mix in some almonds and frozen blueberries, which sweeten it enough that I don't have to add sugar. The frozen blueberries also help cool down the boiling hot oatmeal so I can eat it right away. I eat it right out of the pot, so there's only one dish to clean.
^ Yup. Totally agree.
Yes, I'm with AnnieH.
I can buy a box of grocery store brand oatmeal (NOT instant) that lasts for a month of breakfasts for one person, for between $3 to $4. It's ready in about 5 minutes. I am convinced that I am addicted to oatmeal at this point!
Yup, I agree with the above. I've never really understood instant oatmeal. Regular oatmeal takes 5 minutes tops and it's so much better! I can't stand the texture of instant oatmeal.
We've been doing the overnight oatmeal in the crockpot; I just found a great big bag of steel-cut oats at the health food store for really cheap. It really helps on mornings that the MIL has stayed over.
I make a big pot of rolled oats every monday morning, adding fruit, nuts, flax, etc. and then portioning it into small containers which I grab on my way out the door to eat when I get to my desk. It's good, healthy and incredibly cheap.
I wish I could love oatmeal. I've been trying SO hard, but I'm never satisfied with the result (and I don't use instant! regular or steel-cut). Either too runny/watery, or too gluey, or too mushy, or too chewy... Sigh. I came close after trying steel-cut overnight in the crockpot, but as more than half of it scorched/stuck to the sides I just can't get into that technique (esp. cleaning it up!). I've been wanting to try doing the overnight steel-cut in a bowl that's set in water in the crockpot, but not sure I have a suitable oven-safe bowl...
I am, however, on a huge granola bar kick! Been making Smitten Kitchen's chewy granola bars for weeks now--yum. I think I'm going to try making some regular granola cereal this week...just bought a huge bag of rolled oats from Trader Joe's!
I do overnight oatmeal in the refrigerator. Put equal parts rolled oats (I use 1/3 cup for one person) and milk (I use almond or coconut milk) in a bowl, cover it and let sit overnight. The next morning I stick it in the microwave to warm up for 55 sec. I have been eating it lately with a spoonful of unsweetened applesauce and almond butter.
I love oats!!
I am also big on Bob's Red Mill products now. 10 grain cereal, hot breakfast cereal.. although I am still learning how to cook the last two without producing a sticky, lumpy mess.
I take a cup of milk and zap it in the microwave for a couple of minutes. Meanwhile, I put a handful of old fashioned oats into cereal bowl and add a handful of homemade trail mix that consists of equal parts whole almonds, walnuts, pecans, dried cranberries, dried blueberries and dried cherries. When the milk is hot I pour it over the oat mixture and cover with a small plate. I come back a short time later and voila! ready to eat. Try it...so easy, no muss-no fuss and delicious!
For non-oatmeal lovers, or anyone looking to mix up the daily serving of oatmeal, when I cook quinoa or barley for dinner, I'll make a cup or so extra and set it aside, plain. Then, in the morning I mix it with hot milk and all the stuff you'd add to oatmeal. Quinoa, especially, doesn't get as mushy and boring as oatmeal can be.
It's so easy in the microwave; follow serving amounts on box, for the proper amount of oats to water.
Put rolled oats, cold water and pinch of salt in microwave-safe bowl. Optional: Add cinnamon. And/or raisins or other chopped dried fruit.
Cook on HIGH for about 3 - 4 minutes until it reaches your preferred consistency. Results:Hot and creamy-luscious. Serve with a pat of butter or yogurt or brown sugar honey or fresh fruit or chopped walnuts. Or, add 'em all.
Great idea -- agree with above posters that rolled oats is the way to go. Doesn't take any longer, and much better for you!