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JANUARY 18, 2010
National Oatmeal Month

National Oatmeal Month
Known for the significant health benefits, oatmeal, for some, is a staple in the daily dietary program. Whether eaten for breakfast, lunch, dinner or as a snack, oatmeal provides a warming, soft, nutritious meal for children and adults alike. In January of each year, our country recognizes oatmeal for its nutritional value in what is known as National Oatmeal Month.


January is the month in which we buy more oatmeal than any other month of the year. In January 2001, we stocked our pantries with 34.6 million pounds of Quaker Oats; enough to make 346 million bowls of oatmeal. The most popular oatmeal topping is milk. Other popular toppings are: sugar, fruit (raisins, bananas) and butter/margarine. Among the most unusual are: eggnog, peanut butter, cottage cheese and brewer's yeast.

 
Eighty percent of U.S. households have oatmeal in their cupboard.
 
Oatmeal cookies are the No. 1 non-cereal usage for oatmeal, followed by meatloaf and cakes/pies.
 
An 18-ounce package of Old Fashioned Quaker Oats contains about 26,000 rolled oats.
 
Quaker Oats is enjoyed by families in over 24 countries. In Malaysia for example, it is knows as Chop Orange Tua, in some countries in South America, Quaker Oats is known as "the oats of the little old man."
 
The oat is called a groat after the hull has been removed.
 
Old Fashioned Oats are groats that are steamed and rolled but not cut. They cook in 5 minutes on the stove-top or 3 minutes in a microwave oven and can be used for baking.
 
Quick Oats are groats that are cut into two or three pieces, then steamed and rolled. They cook in just 1 minute on the stove-top or microwave oven and can also be used for baking. (Facts taken from Hungrymonster.com)

Oatmeal Clay
Make oatmeal clay for rainy day child play. Mix 1 cup oatmeal, 1/2 cup flour and 1/2 cup water. Children can mold and form the knobby clay into shapes. Use a blender to grind oatmeal into powder for smoother clay. Make colored clay by adding food coloring to the water. For another day of play, let the artworks dry. The hardened oatmeal clay can then be decorated with non-toxic paint. This oatmeal clay is fun but not edible.

Easy Oatmeal Muffins
Makes 12 muffins
Directions
1.      Preheat oven to 425°F. Grease 12 muffin cups or line with paper muffin liners.
2.     In a small bowl, combine milk and oats. Soak for 15 minutes.
3.     In a separate bowl, beat together egg and oil; stir in oatmeal mixture. In a third bowl, sift together flour, cinnamon, sugar, baking soda and salt. Stir flour mixture into wet ingredients, just until combined. Spoon batter into prepared muffin cups until cups are 2/3 full.
4.     Bake in preheated oven for 15-25 minutes or until a tooth pick inserted in center of muffin comes out clean.

Please enjoy these recipes with your family. As we are busy to get good nutritional food to the table for our families remember that children of all ages can help out depending on the task. Children love to be involved in helping to prepare meals or to craft. So next time you go to cook or bake something, oatmeal or not, involve the kids. They’ll love it! Until next time, Happy Reading!


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