COCOATS GUYS, COCOATS – COCONUT + OATS!!! It’s life in a bowl, let me tell you!
This is a great breakfast to fuel up with and perfect on a day like today; Christmas Morning, when your in the house being all cozy and stuff 😉 The smell of the chocolate and coconut boiling on the stove was divine and filled out little cottage for hours! These oats are so creamy and thick from the use of coconut milk and a few other ingredients, I think they may have became my new favorite take on oatmeal! Let’s take a dive into the nourishment:
OATS: I know carbohydrates get a bad rep these days, but they are one of the most important macronutrients for carrying out processes in the body, providing you with energy and brain health! It all comes down to your source of carbohydrates and how you use them in terms of timing and what you pair them with (i,e fats)! That being said, oats are a fantastic source of complex carbohydrates. They are full of fiber and protein. They contain a type of fiber called beta-glucan, a type of soluble fiber. Beta-glucan partially dissolves in water and forms a thick, gel-like solution in the gut. The health benefits of beta-glucan fiber include:
- Reduced LDL and total cholesterol levels
- Reduced blood sugar and insulin response
- Increased feeling of fullness
- Increased growth of good bacteria in the digestive tract
CHOCOLATE: The chocolate used is actually cacao, chocolate in its purest form, no sugar or dairy added. This reduces the risk of inflammation and dairy bloat. Eating Evolved is the chocolate that I used and it is one of a kind! Their ingredients lists is one of the cleanest around and ALL of their products are honestly some of the best tasting I’ve ever tried! Cacao contains loads of antioxidants and mood boosting compounds. As the detrimental effects of things like pure sugar and high fructose corn syrup become increasingly more evident, people are turning to natural alternative for sweeteners. Eating Evolved uses coconut sugar in their chocolate, which is a great alternative. It’s low on the glycemic index and provides you with minerals like magnesium, zinc and iron!
COCONUT: Coconut is one of my favorite healthy fats. It’s a Medium Chain Triglyceride fatty acid and is digested differently than other fatty acids. It bypasses the digestive system and is able to be used as an immediate energy source. Perfect to add to your morning breakfast. It contains anti-microbial properties and is shown to aid in weight management due to it’s role of creating satiety and balancing blood sugar levels. Healthy fats help keep your tummy full and satisfied, instead of leaving you on a blood sugar roller coaster and reaching for sweets all day long. Healthy fats are also crucial in aiding nutrient absorption from other foods that you eat.
- 1/2 cup rolled oats
- 1/2 cup full fat coconut milk
- 1/2 + 1/8 cup almond milk
- 1 tsp cinnamon
- 1/2 Eating evolved Chocolate Almond Bar
- 1 tbsp cacao
- fresh berries
- 2 tbsp chocolate protein powder
- Heat the oats, coconut milk, almond milk, and cacao on the stove until it reaches a boil.
- Turn to low, add the chocolate bar, cinnamon, (berries and protein powder if using) cover and simmer for 5-6 minutes or until oats are fully cooked.
- Top with a drizzle of coconut milk, cacao nibs and more eating evolved
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