Very Berry Apple Baked Oatmeal

Good Morning!!!

Everyone ready for Monday? Is it just me or is it really hard getting back into the routine after the holidays? The last couple weeks I worked from home due to my ankle injury. Today I’m headed back to the office. I’m curious to see how my ankle handles the added stress. Speaking of stress, it it always feels way more stressful having to get dressed in something other than yoga pants, put on makeup, pack a lunch and commute to the office.Wouldn’t it be awesome if we could all wear our workout clothes to the office? I think that’s a fashion trend that needs to be started pronto. 

After being away from the office so long, I’ve been feeling a little stir crazy. I’m actually excited to see the office peeps, catch up on the latest gossip and try to remember where we left work things. And frankly, I can’t stay home any longer because that would mean Mom influencing me to shop more. I’m not hard to influence in that department especially now that I’m feeling better. But my ankle and wallet can’t afford anymore. I truly don’t know how many purses, shoes or dresses a woman needs, but my Mom never seems to have enough. Good thing she doesn’t live in Phoenix otherwise we’d always be shopping and I would never meet my financial goals this year or ever. 

I’m also glad to get back to my healthy eating routine this week. I don’t know about you, but it always seems like my food and meals are all over the place during the holidays. Eating at strange times of the day, eating out, lack of food prep, etc. catches up for you. Cookies for breakfast, lunch and dinner is awesome, but after a few weeks of that I’m definitely craving more nutrients and fiber. I still need a touch of sweet though and something that will warm me up. It’s been 15-20 degrees colder in Phoenix this past week than us desert rats are used to. Since then I’ve had a constant chill and in desperate need of something to warm me up especially in the morning after swimming laps. That’s where very berry apple oatmeal came to the rescue.

This is a delicious redeux of an oldie but goodie that I made last Christmas except this time I snuck an apple in the bake. Sneaky…sneaky… If you’ve never made baked oatmeal, you really should give it a whirl. It requires very little prep to make. You could even do it in the crockpot overnight on low and wake up to a fabulous smelling house. Frozen mixed berries, an apple, gluten free oats, a little almond milk, cinnamon & sugar and I had myself some sweet warmness.

To be quite frank, it is kinda strange that I made oatmeal. I haven’t been eating much oatmeal (outside my muffins) or grains this winter. A few months back, I started researching Paleo and Whole 30 and began experimenting with eating less grains and processed foods. The idea behind both is to eat more whole, real foods and eliminate processed foods. Many grains, legumes and dairy foods are processed and difficult for our bodies to break down and digest.

I discovered my body can tolerate legumes every once in awhile, grains in small amounts but it depends on the grain (i.e. oatmeal & quinoa I’m ok with, brown rice not so much) and I can tolerate almost no dairy which I already knew. After my great food experiment, I realized how good my body felt eating that way and how much better my fitness became too. After a month of eating that way, I started sneaking a few other things back into my diet out of curiosity and as soon as I did it was like someone gave me a sleeping pill and impregnated me. Now I don’t claim to follow either of these diets strictly or any diet for that matter. I just experiment and do what makes me feel best, which I highly recommend you do for yourself. No medical or weight loss expert can do that for you. 

Flavored with cinnamon, apples & berries this oatmeal is subtly sweet and packed with fiber and nutrients. Pair with greek yogurt or cottage cheese for added protein. This makes a wonderful winter breakfast or snack to warm you up on a chilly day and satisfy your sweet tooth with healthy ingredients. 

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How’s your eating been over the holidays? Have you fallen off the sago or still on track? Are you ready for routine this week? What’s one thing you’re looking forward to this week?

Linking up with Meatless Monday.

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About Megan

Megan is a certified nutrition practitioner, author, freelance food photographer and fitness instructor living in Phoenix, Arizona. On her blog, Skinny Fitalicious she shares EASY, gluten free recipes for weight loss. Follow Megan on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest and Instagram for the latest updates.