Saturday, October 30, 2021

What I eat for breakfast every single day

Before I launch into the post: Did you notice a change on the blog? After years and years of keeping the same blog header, I was ready for a change and tinkered around and made a new one, just for fun. It looks a little blurry and I still need to figure out how to fix that. 

Today I'm writing a quick post about breakfast, which remains an important meal for my early-bird self. Two years ago, I went on a work trip and discovered the hearty simplicity of steel-cut oats. Back home, I quickly got into the groove of cooking 1 cup of dry steel-cut oats and eating that batch over 4 days. Rinse and repeat. Having discovered an easy and tasty topping for the plain porridge, I found myself eating it every day. I waited to tire of it, but almost 2 years have passed and I still look forward to that hearty bowl of oatmeal, no matter the season. 

My husband has eaten granola for breakfast for about 15 years and counting. I always wondered how he did not tire of eating the exact same thing every day and now here I am, eating the same meal every morning. There's something to be said for it. I spent so much time planning, shopping for, and cooking meals, trying to keep the menu somewhat varied and interesting, that it is a relief to have one meal that is sorted out every day. Just a little less decision-making in a day filled with thousands of choices and decisions, minor as they may be. 

Basic steel cut oats

(About 4 servings)

1 cup dry steel-cut oats
4 cups water
1/4  tsp. salt

  • Place all ingredients in the Instant Pot.
  • Pressure cook on HIGH for 4 minutes. 
  • Natural pressure release. The natural pressure release is important so that the oatmeal does not stick to the bottom of the insert.
I usually add 3/4 cup or so of almond milk to the oats after cooking, for some creaminess. 

On days 2, 3 and 4, when I am eating refrigerated oatmeal, I simply scoop some in a bowl, add some water if needed, and microwave for a couple of minutes until it is piping hot.


To my bowl of warm oatmeal, I typically add:
1. 3/4 cup of frozen blueberries, thawed in the microwave for a minute
2. A spoonful of hemp seeds
3. A spoonful of ground flax seeds
4. A serving of mixed nut butter
On alternate days, I add 1 or 2 chopped Brazil nuts for the selenium.

So that is it- my low effort breakfast! 

Do you or would you eat the same thing every day for a meal?

24 comments:

  1. I don't eat breakfast anymore (less food required with age, alas) but if I did, there is one thing I know I could eat every day as I have done it in the past: quick semolina/yoghurt idlis a la Madhur Jaffrey. But I adapted them to a semi-Kanchipuram style (I think) and add scallions, grated carrot, and cashews along with the coconut and mustard seeds. I wish I had some right now.

    I'm fond of oatmeal, but it can't hold a candle to idlis.

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    1. I'm with you on the love for idlis! I always make the typical urad dal fermented ones and haven't made instant idlis in AGES. Yes, the kanchipuram style with all the flavorings is so good!!

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  2. I may give this a try. Your statement about choosing the same thing each day to avoid decision fatigue resonates with me. I love to cook, but the week is always so busy that sometimes it just seems overwhelming to choose something as simple as breakfast! I also like the idea of starting the day with healthy carbs. Thank you again for sharing. I have enjoyed your blog very much over the years.

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    1. Thanks for your nice note, and for reading this blog over the years! I am not even a fan of sweet breakfasts at all, but this simple meal of porridge, fruit and nuts (no added sugar) has somehow really stuck with me. It does keep me full for hours too. I hope you try it for yourself!

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  3. I am totally in your camp about eating the same thing for breakfast every day. There is something very comforting about that routine that somehow grounds you and gets you set for the rest of the day. Funnily enough, I eat oatmeal every morning too, and my husband, granola! I make granola at home. In place of oil, I add a hearty scoop of lightly melted peanut, almond or cashew butter or tahini, along with a big glug of maple syrup for sweetness. These are all mixed together along with the oats right in the baking dish and it is so yummy. And oh - I do love the new look!

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    1. Hi Kamini- same pinch ;) Yes, there IS something very comforting about starting off the day with a routine that works for you.

      I love your nut butter/tahini version of granola and will have to give that a try. I sometimes use a bit of jaggery in the granola, and sometimes maple syrup, to very lightly sweeten it.

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  4. I totally agree with you on decision fatigue. I just gave overnight oatmeal a try. Very adaptable recipe. I’d recommend it!

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    1. I'll have to try overnight oatmeal, yes! Sounds like a great make-ahead breakfast.

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  5. Love your new header - such a warm welcoming design.

    I admire your regular breakfasts but cannot find an easy breakfast to eat every day - I go through phases of granola and toast but I still struggle with wanting savoury often in mornings but don't have easy dishes I like - though also with summer fruit coming in, it will mean that I eat a lot more fruit for breakfast than in winter.

    BTW do you eat the same mixed nut butter each day or does that vary?

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    1. Thanks Johanna! In the past I've definitely had phases of avocado toast, eggs and potatoes, etc. But I'm glad to not be eating as many eggs any more.

      I too very much prefer savory to sweet so liking this breakfast has been surprising. It helps that the only sweetness comes from blueberries.

      I do eat the same nut butter- something called "mixed nut butter" sold by Trader Joe's here.

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  6. Ha! The breakfast that I almost eat every day or is my pantry staple is your granola! I made granola using your recipe years ago and have now hacked that it into my custom recipe. I love oatmeal too...sometime even as lunch as it is easy to take with me. My oatmeal just had flax seeds, chia seeds and lots of raisins.
    Love the new look!

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    1. That's awesome, Sangeetha! That's what I love about granola- you can customize it to make it your very own! I can see how oatmeal would be a very convenient lunch as well. Something I have not tried yet is savory oatmeal.

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  7. Hi Nupur - wishing you a delightful Divali!! I am sure you will make some Faral for V, Lila and Niam! I don't eat breakfast anymore as I do the 16:8 IF but when I was in the workforce I would have a bowl of 2 Weetbix ( so very Aussie) and warm milk and a generous dollop of honey!!! And didn't tire of it at all! And good header!! But I am a tad partial to the origianl one!!!

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    1. Hi Shubha- Happy Diwali to you and yours!! I do have plans to make a mithai or two this weekend and have a couple close friends over for dinner. But it will be a very low-key Diwali.

      I do miss my banana leaf header as well. Will probably go back to it soon :)

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  8. I have been eating the same 2 breakfast items for many years now. One is couple of slices of sourdough with toppings like cheese+tomatoes or nut butter+jam. And another is a fruit bowl+granola. Apart from this when I was physically going to office and not WFH, I used to eat idly/dosa at a local brekkie place that was on my way to work. But now with WFH, its back to the same ol toast and fruit breakfasts. I absolutely love not having to make a choice what to eat (I realise the privilege too here) especially during the first meal of the day, reduces a lot of cognitive overload.
    Happy Diwali to you and your family Nupur!

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    1. Dear Neha- I hope you and your family had a wonderful Diwali as well! Toast and toppings and fruit sounds like a lovely way to start the day.

      I remember being in Bangalore one summer for an internship and there was an idli/dosa/medu vada breakfast place near where I stayed. A place of idli/vada/sambar/chutney with piping hot coffee for a few rupees- those were the most divine breakfasts.

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  9. When the children were younger and could not be trusted to finish their lunch due to various distractions like the school play structure, we switched to eating amti-bhat for breakfast all 4 of us and it worked brilliantly!

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    1. Hi Vishaka- that is really brilliant!! Growing up, I had an aunt and uncle who did just that- started the day with a poli-bhaji-amti meal at 10 AM. It worked for them.

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  10. I eat steel cut oats too everyday such a satisfying meal. my combinations vary from seeds, nuts, fruits to adding left over veggies or sambar or daal. love the new look of your blog.

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    1. Mamta- that is SO intriguing that you add savory leftovers to steel cut oats!! I have stuck in my routine and yet to try savory oats. Thanks for the note! :)

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  11. My morning go to breakfast is oats and my toppings are usually raisins , walnuts,brown sugar and granola . Sometimes I do oats upma or a combo of oats and couscous upma but I like the sweet version the best .

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    1. That's awesome. Walnuts are great; I always add those to my homemade granola. I have yet to try a savory version of oats, it would be interesting to give it a shot!

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  12. Hi Nupur, I was just reading your post with my breakfast, ditto , I had the same breakfast. It's filling, and I realized that I don't crave that much for sweets for some reason. I have a heavy sweet tooth. :)) No post for a long time.
    Happy Holidays and New Year too!!

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  13. Love the new header! And proudly reading One Hot Stove since 2005 :) Here's to many more years of blogging.

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