Trader Joe’s Rants & Raves (mostly raves, a few rants)

If you had to pick out the single “healthiest” item you could buy at Trader Joe’s, what would you pick?

Here’s one item I might choose:

TJ’s ORGANIC STEEL CUT OATS. Classic. Whole grain. Super food. Healthy? No doubt about it.

The only ingredient is (organic) steel cut oats

Are oats healthy? (Search results)

“Oats are considered an exceptionally healthy, nutrient-dense whole grain, packed with fiber (especially beta-glucan), protein, vitamins, and minerals. Regular consumption supports heart health by reducing cholesterol, aids in weight management by promoting fullness, and helps stabilize blood sugar levels. 

Key Health Benefits of Oats:

Nutrient-Dense: Rich in magnesium, iron, zinc, phosphorus, and antioxidants (avenanthramides). There’s a reason horses are fed oats. Frankly these are practically the same as oats horses eat, the real difference being the grains here have been cut smaller. STEEL CUT as the name implies has the oats cut with steel blades, with a grain cut into about 2 or 3 pieces just to make it cook faster. That’s it. Minimally processed.

Heart Health: The soluble fiber beta-glucan helps lower LDL (“bad”) cholesterol.

Blood Sugar Control: Oats have a lower glycemic response, which helps regulate blood sugar and insulin levels.

Weight Management: High fiber and protein content contribute to satiety (feeling full), reducing overall calorie intake.

Gut Health: They act as a prebiotic, promoting the growth of good bacteria in the digestive tract.

Steel cut oats are a natural food with minimal processing. Way less processing than even rolled oats which have been partially cooked and are then pressed between steel rollers (rolled) to flatten them, to make them cook faster. These are uncooked so take a little longer but worth it for taste and texture in my opinion.

As far as oatmeal goes, steel cut oats are my favorite type of oatmeal, as they have a lovely chewy texture and a nice nutty taste. I love them for breakfast. They do take a bit longer to cook than rolled oats but I think the effort is worth it, as they taste fantastic. How long? These take about 25-30 minutes. To save time, try what I do. I generally make a pot of them the night before so they are all ready in the morning. I usually will make a big enough batch to last us about 3 or 4 days.

How to cook STEEL CUT OATS. The basic ratio is 1:4. So 1 cup of oats to 4 cups of water. In a heavy pot, boil 4 cups of water. Add a pinch of salt (optional but it tastes better) Stir in the 1 cup of the oats, and when they start to boil lower the heat till they are simmering. Stir occasionally every 10 minutes or so so the bottom doesn’t stick or burn. Let them cook for about 25-30 minutes. We like to add a good sprinkle of cinnamon when we are cooking them. Many times we will dice up an apple and throw that in too. Raisins. Dried cranberries can all be great additions too.

To Serve: optional additions are many: Some butter or cream, brown sugar, raisins, frozen blueberries or other fruit. Whatever strikes your fancy. You can change them up easily so you can make it different every time. If you are a purist, just eat them plain! Obviously that stuff makes them a bit less healthy but I feel I balance it all out.

Trader Joe’s Organic Oatmeal $4.49 (30 oz tub)

“Are oats Gluten Free” – Yes