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Aviva Allen
Posted by Aviva Allen
Aviva Allen
Aviva Allen, RHN, is one of Toronto's leading nutritionists and author of The Or
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on Wednesday, 02 March 2011 in General

Fast Food Oatmeal - Is it a healthy choice?

Oatmeal


Oatmeal is the hottest new menu item, popping up at a numerous coffee shops and fast food joints around the city.

Even McDonald's is selling it at its US restaurants. But is it really a healthy choice?

Below you will find a comparison of the oatmeal available at three different food chains; Starbuck's, Tim Hortons and Timothy's. While none of these options are as healthy as making your own oatmeal at home, I've provided some tips to help you make the best choices out of what is available.

 

 


Starbuck's


Tim Hortons


Timothy's


Price

$3.49

$1.99

$3.29


Cooking Method


Instant - cooked with hot water


Slow cooked


Instant - cooked in steamed milk


Type of Oats


Rolled oats + oat bran


Rolled oats


Quaker quick oats




What's Added

Guar gum and caramel colour in the oatmeal and sulphites, sugar and sunflower oil in the dried fruit mix


Sugar, salt and
sunflower oil


Just the steamed milk (hot water can be used instead by request)

Sweetener
Options


Brown sugar
Mixed berry and brown sugar or Maple and brown sugar flavour options


Honey or brown sugar


Toppings
Available

Nut mix (almonds, walnuts, pecans) and dried fruit mix


See above


Granola or raisins

 


Recommendations

 


Ask for it without the dried fruit mix or brown sugar and add nut mix and honey instead


Ask for the plain oatmeal and request the mixed berries without the brown sugar
Ask for it to be cooked in hot water instead of milk and skip the sweetened granola and brown sugar



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Aviva Allen
Aviva Allen, RHN, is one of Toronto's leading nutritionists and author of The Organic Kosher Cookbook. After obtaining certification at The Canadian School of Natural Nutrition, Aviva spent three months at the Isabella Freedman Jewish Retreat Center in Connecticut with the Adamah program - an opportunity that allowed her to integrate organic farming and sustainable living with her background in nutrition.
http://www.avivaallen.com

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