How I tamed my sweet tooth!
One bowl of oats at a time
Let me be real. I have a sweet tooth. And for me, it shows up the loudest at breakfast.
Cereal—basically dessert in a bowl. Pancakes—was more like add pancakes to my syrup. Instant oatmeal—was made extra sweet with added sugar. Oh yeah, I can’t forget 2 pumpkin loaves and Venti peppermint mocha—cake + sugar bomb.
Taming my sweet tooth
When I began my plant-based journey, one of my first goals was to cut back on sugar. My starting point?
Oatmeal. I swapped instant packets for steel-cut oats. At first, I still added maple syrup and brown sugar—just one tablespoon each. Over time, I weaned myself off with the natural sweetness of fruit.
Oats 101
🥣 Steel-cut oats: Sure, they take the longest to cook—but they’re the least processed, the healthiest, and totally worth the wait. That’s why they’re my oat of choice.
🥣 Rolled oats: The middle ground. Flattened, quick to cook, and perfect for overnight oats.
🥣 Instant oats: The fast food of oats—so processed they practically cook themselves. The downside? Usually packed with sugar and additives. (Basically, you’re having candy disguised as breakfast.)
My busy-morning steel-cut hack
Here’s how I make them work in real life:
✅ Add oats + water to pot at the same time.
✅ Turn heat to high, let it boil (~5 minutes). Timer on!
✅ Drop heat to low, cover, set timer for 20–30 minutes, then walk away.
By the time I’ve moved through my morning routine, the oats are ready.
Toppings I love:
🍓Fresh fruit (strawberries, blueberries) + flaxseed
🥜 Dried fruit + nuts (walnuts, almonds) + cinnamon
Rolled oats are still a solid option, especially if you’re short on time. Just skip the instant packets. Because honestly—we don’t want dessert for breakfast pretending to be healthy.
So try steel-cut or rolled oats if instant oats have been your thing, and give your mornings a real upgrade.
Let’s get your life back—one breakfast at a time.