Cocoa-Date Oatmeal

From EatingWell: The EatingWell Diabetes Cookbook (2005) — Subscribe Now!

"I was inspired by the news that chocolate can be good for you," wrote reader Jennifer Sanders of Cambridge, Ontario. "Why not eat it for breakfast?" She shared her recipe for this heart-warming chocolaty hot cereal. If you are looking for a way to get your kids to start their day with a bowl of oatmeal, this is it. The microwave is convenient, but you can also cook the oatmeal on the stovetop following package directions. Top the cereal with milk or soymilk and sweeten with brown sugar or no-calorie sweetener, if desired.

READER'S COMMENT:

"I have added 1/4 cup of blueberries to my oatmeal and am loving it...but in looking for something more, I added 1/4 cup of Vanilla Coffee Creamer found in the dairy case, sweetened with Splenda, and its just great. Added just enough...

Comments

Comment	Posted
I have added 1/4 cup of blueberries to my oatmeal and am loving it...but in looking for something more, I added 1/4 cup of Vanilla Coffee Creamer found in the dairy case, sweetened with Splenda, and its just great. Added just enough sweetener and sweet taste to make it great! Lynn, Kernersville, NC	8 weeks 1 day ago
This recipe was very good and I have been eating oatmeal for years now. Adding dates was something new. Using an "unprocessed" cocoa powder is the healthiest product to use as its important health beneficial nutrients are not comprmised. I also stir in 1 tbls. fresh ground organic golden flax seed into my oatmeal AFTER it has cooked. This adds a very good amount of Omega 3 and gives it a little nutty flavor. A little brown sugar will help if you still need it to be sweeter. Tepstill, CA	8 weeks 1 day ago
I stopped using a microwave oven about 5 years ago, and do not miss it at all. I did not like the way food tasted after being cooked in one, since then I found many interesting articles about why some people may choose not to use one. here is a link to just one. www.mercola.com/article/microwave/hazards.htm Louise, Auckland, NZ	8 weeks 1 day ago
Take a pill, Debbie from Topeka, KS. This is a recipe-sharing site and people can give other suggestions if they want to. Nancy, Dallas, TX	8 weeks 1 day ago
Great recipe, but one cautionary note: NEVER use plastic wrap (or any type of plastic container) in your microwave. The heat leeches out toxins that end up in your food! Use a microwave safe cover or wax paper to cover your food. Stephanie, New York, NY	8 weeks 1 day ago
Yeah please make a stove top version joe	8 weeks 1 day ago
microwaves do change the structure of your food and destroy the nutrients. Please read this article: http://www.mercola.com/article/microwave/hazards.htm I never use microwaves anymore. bb, NY, NJ	8 weeks 1 day ago
A microwave does not destroy the nutrients any more than it cooks from the inside out. Assuming it's used properly. That is nuts if you think about it. If you're still worried, tho, you can cook it on the stovetop, about the same way. Make the oatmeal according to package directions for stovetop, and add dates and cocoa. Cocoa=unsweetened powdered baking cocoa. The sweetened stuff is called something else. Cleveland, OH, please! You're oh-so- creative, aren't you? Everyone knows there are a million different ways to make oatmeal, but if you leave out the cocoa and the dates, then it's no longer cocoa-date oatmeal, is it? We all know you can add cinnamon, blueberries, raspberries, peaches, bananas, and they will make the oatmeal different each time and tastes great. The point is, did you make THIS recipe, using cocoa and dates, and how was it? There's always one, and one like me, too. :) Debbie, Topeka, KS	8 weeks 1 day ago
Excuse me ....BUT Microwaving indeed DOES detroy many of the Nutrients in foods! Check it out youself ... Google Microwave and read the reports! I threw mine out several years ago and now only use small Convection/Toaster oven or Stovetop for cooking. Microwave ovens are actually BANNED in several countries. Check it out !!! Jack Arno, Burlington, CA	8 weeks 1 day ago
Try cooking it in the milk, leave off the cocoa & dates, add a little cinnamon, cook 2-3 mins in microwave, also try Quick oats, add frozen blueberries, raspb., peaches, bannas. A different one each time. Tastes great. Anonymous, Cleveland, OH	8 weeks 1 day ago