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 the item I might pick – ORGANIC STEEL CUT OATS. Whole grain. Super food.

One ingredient: Organic steel cut oats

These are practically what horses eat. Just cut smaller. Steel cut oats as the name implies is a grain of oat cut up into about 2 or 3 pieces to make it cook faster. That’s it. Minimally processed. Steel cut oats are pretty natural with 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

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 take a little bit longer to cook than rolled oats but I think the effort is worth it, as these taste way better. These take about 25 minutes. I generally make a pot of them the night before so they are ready in the morning for breakfast. 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. 1 cup of oats to 4 cups of water. In a heavy pot, boil the water. Add a pinch of salt (optional but it tastes better) Stir in the oats, and when they start to boil lower the heat till they are simmering stirring 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.

Optional additions are so 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)

“What are the health benefits of oats” (Google)

Oats are highly nutritious, offering benefits like improved heart, gut, and blood sugar health due to their unique soluble fiber, beta-glucan, which lowers cholesterol and glucose, promotes good gut bacteria, and increases fullness for weight management. They’re packed with protein, vitamins, minerals (magnesium, copper, zinc, thiamine), and antioxidants called avenanthramides, supporting digestion, energy, and providing anti-inflammatory effects.

Key Benefits:

• Heart Health: Beta-glucan significantly lowers total and LDL (“bad”) cholesterol and helps lower blood pressure by promoting nitric oxide, which widens blood vessels.
• Blood Sugar Control: Slows glucose absorption, improving insulin sensitivity and reducing the risk of type 2 diabetes.
• Digestive Health: Fiber acts as a prebiotic, feeding beneficial gut bacteria, and helps with regularity, preventing constipation.
• Weight Management: Fiber and protein increase satiety, helping you feel full longer and reducing overall calorie intake.
• Rich in Antioxidants: Unique antioxidants (avenanthramides) and polyphenols offer anti-inflammatory and protective effects.
• Nutrient-Dense: An excellent source of manganese, phosphorus, magnesium, copper, zinc, and B vitamins.

How to Maximize Benefits:

Pair with healthy additions like nuts, seeds, and fruit to boost nutrition and avoid added sugars.

Choose less-processed forms like rolled oats or steel-cut oats over instant varieties to get the most beta-glucan.

“Are oats Gluten Free” – Yes