Steel Cut Oatmeal

Marcus is getting ready to begin his 24 Day Challenge with Advocare.  We are waiting for the shipment to arrive so in the meantime I am getting a good amount of the meals prepped for him for the first week.  To start off, today I cut up a bunch of fresh fruit and made him a heaping bowl of fruit salad that he can easily snack on or take for breakfast.  I also made up a batch of Better Than Tuna Salad (recipe to come) and lastly I have made him some Steel Cut Oatmeal with fresh blueberries and strawberries. Yum! Yum!  Steel Cut Oats are much better for you than regular oatmeal because the oat is less processed so it ends up containing more fiber and has a lower glycemic index (high glycemic index causes rise in insulin followed by a crash).  It has a chewier texture than regular oats but because it has more fiber you feel fuller for longer and it will help curve any cravings coming your way!!

For anyone who doesn't know, the 24 Day Challenge is an amazing way to rid your body of toxins and a build up of bad fats in the body as well as establishing a great start for weight loss and nutrition.  The average person loses 10 pounds and 10 inches on it and has an incredible amount of energy during and after it.  If you know Marcus you know that he doesn't have "weight" to lose but he is wanting to get defined and build up muscle.  The Challenge is a great way to attain that as well, it is not just for people that have a lot of weight to lose!  I am big on establishing a LIFESTYLE not a diet.  I hate diets, they NEVER last.  I am aware that it doesn't matter how healthy you eat everyday unfortunately you will still have potholes in your nutrition.  For example:  You buy carrots at the grocery store- Little do you know that those carrots are already ATLEAST 1 week old, meaning that they already have 40% LESS nutrients in them from time of picking.  PLUS, the soil that they were grown in is not the same as it used to be.  It should contain 26 differant nutrients, the soil now days only contains 3!!!!  So even if you ate those carrots straight from the ground they would already be lacking 90% of their nutrients, but we aren't eating them straight from the ground are we??  Subtract another 40%!!  Yes, we can buy organic and the soil will be in better condition and if we buy local we will eat it sooner but the problem that I come across is if it is not summer and the Farmer's Markets aren't open then you are only left with the grocery stores and they only carry so much organic which leaves you with only one option, 1 week old, non-organic fruit and veg, ugh!!  This is why I firmly believe that nutritional supplements are key to great health, they help fill in all of those potholes that even the best diet can not acheive!!  Advocare helps you build and maintain amazing core nutrition as well as clean, productive energy!!  Not only that, it helps you increase your muscle endurance while optimizing shorter recovery time!  Amazing!  I will be keeping you all posted on how Marcus is doing and his progress along the way!!  If anybody is interested in the Challenge and how to get started send me a message and I can help you out!

On to bigger and better things-How about all the yummy food he is going to be eating on this Challenge!! Let's be honest, we eat these foods normally (like I said Lifestyle, not diet).  One of the recipes I made him this morning is the Steel Cut Oatmeal.  It takes a little bit longer to cook than regular oats so I made a big batch that way he can just dish it up, throw in some fresh fruit and head off to work!

Steel Cut Oatmeal
adapted by Skinnygirl Dish

2 cups water
1/2 cup steel-cut oats 
1 tablespoon soy milk
1 teaspoon slivered almonds
2 teaspoons real maple syrup
3/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/8 teaspoon real vanilla extract
Fresh berries of your choice

In a small saucepan, bring the water to a boil.  Add the oats and reduce the heat to low.  Cook for 25 minutes, stirring occasionally.  Add the remaining ingredients (except berries) and cook for 5 more minutes.  When all finished add in the fresh berries and serve.  Makes 2 servings so double or triple it when making a big batch for the week!