Creamy Oats with Tahini, Choc, Cashews, Chia & Hemp

This delicious, creamy bowl of oats, topped with so much goodness, I could eat all day every day!  I might even go as far to say that it’s my favourite breakfast combination, ever.  I’m a big fan of tahini and 1 scoop of this provides enough to have a bit with every mouthful.  That, combined with some melted, dark chocolate is such a luxury taste combination.  The other ingredients are there for the ride but bring with them gifts of super dense nutrition and are all worthy of their place.  Here are a few quick facts about each ingredient and the reason why I’ve thought they play a starring role in my diet for today, have a quick scan down to see just how much goodness you can pack into the first meal of the day……

Oats:

It will be hard to keep this one short as oats are so loaded with nutrients! In short; they provide;

• Fiber – beta-glucan is formed when oats dissolve in water.  This helps to lower cholesterol by transporting it out of the body
• Protein
• Good amounts of minerals (manganese, phosphorus, magnesium, copper, iron & zinc)
• Vitamin B1 which helps to convert the oats into usable energy.
• They are rich in a particular antioxidant called Avenanthramides which may help lower blood pressure through the release of nitric oxide – a gas which helps to dilate blood vessels and keep the blood flowing around the body. This antioxidant is also anti-inflammatory and can reduce itching.
• They are cheap and plentiful, so a really great option for breakfast each day and will keep you fuller for longer with slow releasing complex carbohydrates which is better for blood-sugar management.
• Jumbo oats are the least processed so I always opt for these over ‘quick’ oats even though they require increased soaking/cooking time – I think they are worth it for the extra nutrients this provides.

Cashews:

• A great, all round, amino acid profile so great protein source.
• Rich in copper
• Good amounts of magnesium, manganese, zinc and phosphorous
• Some selenium, iron and vitamin K

Tahini:

• Made from ground sesame seeds, dark tahini provides good amounts of Calcium, Iron, Magnesium and Copper.

Cinnamon:

• Anti-inflammatory and can help balance blood sugar

Dark Chocolate (85% cocoa):

• Very powerful source of anti-oxidants – and tastes pretty good too 😉

Chia seeds:

• Great source of;
  • Omega 3
  • Calcium
  • Fibre

Shelled Hemp Seeds:

• Great source of:
  • Omega 3
  • Iron
  • Manganese
  • Phosphorous
  • Vitamin B1

Because each ingredient is so packed with nutrients, just 1/3 cup of oats and a tablespoon of each of the toppings will give you a great foundation to start your day.