Breakfast is the most important meal of the day. It activates or metabolism and tells our body that the day has begun, and sleep is over.
Preferably Hot but you can eat this Cold (room temperature) too, when we are looking for a healthy and quick breakfast recipe, oatmeal porridge is often the answer and this recipe is one of the most delicious and healthiest, you can eat. It transforms the traditional porridge into a festival of healthy ingredients full of essential antioxidants, vitamins and minerals and other phytonutrients.
A bowl of warm oatmeal is our family favourite way to welcome in the chilly mornings.
All the delicious comforting flavours of a sweet pumpkin pie, but in some breakfast oats. Pumpkin Pie Porridge is also a great way to sneak some extra fruit into your diet.
Prep Time: 1 minute
Cook Time: 6 minutes
Total Time: 7 minutes
Servings: people
Calories: 304kcal
Ingredients
- 60 grams jumbo rolled oats (old fashioned oats).
- 350 ml Skimmed milk
- 3 tbsp Pumpkin puree
- A sprinkle of cinnamon, nutmeg and ground ginger (to taste)
- 2 tbsp Flax seeds (linseeds)
- 2 tbsp Pure maple syrup
- Pecans and dried cranberries for serving (optional)
Instructions
- Firstly, put the oats and milk in a pan and bring to the boil. Simmer for around 4 minutes, until starting to thicken.
- Next, add the pumpkin puree and spices and mix well. Simmer for 1-2 minutes.
- Finally, divide between bowls and drizzle over maple syrup and top with Love Arctic flaxseed blend, pecans and dried cranberries
The Traditional Chinese medicine concept.
Oats: Nourish the Three Treasures, Warms Yang, Tonify Qi and Blood, Circulate Qi, Calm the Shen (mind). Pumpkin: Tonify Qi, Circulates Blood, Disperses Cold, Clears damp, Resolves phlegm. Cinnamon: Warms the Spleen and Kidneys, Tonifies the Yang, Expels Cold, Warms the meridians, Promotes circulation of Qi. Nutmeg: Warms the Spleen and Stomach, circulates Qi. Protects the Intestines and stops diarrhoea. Ground Ginger: Warms the Spleen and expels Cold. Restores collapse of Yang and expels Interior Cold. Maple Syrup: Warms the Lungs and assists expectoration of Cold Phlegm. Stops chronic bleeding caused by Cold. Flax seeds: Nourishes Yin, Promotes lubrication, Dispels Wind. Maple Syrup: Strengthens the Middle Jiao, Moistens the Intestines, Tonify Qi. Cranberries: Clears Heat, Resolves Damp.
A pure healthy meal in itself, with enough nutrients to get you to the next bite.
The Three Treasures
The ancient Chinese who developed balancing, tonic and sedation herbals said that a human being is composed of three “Treasures.” The “Three Treasures” are called Jing, Qi and Shen.
Jing – is the first Treasure and is translated as “Essence.” Jing is the primal energy of life and is closely associated with our genetic potential, it is associated with the aging process. Longevity is the nourishment of Jing – our capacity to age gracefully and healthy.
Qi – is the second Treasure, and in the Three Treasures system includes both Energy and blood. This is the aspect of our life that involves action and movement, our ability to exercise and contribute to the world we live in, to work and help ourselves, our family, friends and community.
Shen – is the third Treasure. Shen is our Mind, our Spirit, our Soul, everything about our ability to reason and understand and think. Our intuition, our capacity to feel and love. To nourish our Shen, means cultivating our inner wisdom and smile. Shen is ultimately the most important of the Three Treasures because it is the basis of our higher nature as human beings.
James O’Sullivan - that's me, a people friendly practitioner and lecturer of Integrated Medicine, serving my patients, my students and the public with the positive benefits of both Conventional Western Medicine and Traditional Chinese Medicine.
Disclaimer: This article is not intended to diagnose or assess. The information provided is not to be considered a substitute for consultation with a qualified health care practitioner.