Breakfast of Champions

Training camp season is in full swing over at VMS and Dawn from Florida Coastal Cooking is on hand to help with one of our breakfast staples Oat groat cereal. This is great for the convenience because all of the ingredients are pantry staples and it does not need refrigeration until mixed. You need to make it at least 24 hours in advance and it will keep up to 4 days. 

Oat groats are the least processed kind of oats. They are the whole oat kernel with the inedible outer hull removed and the bran layer left intact. Because of their minimal processing, they have the highest nutritional value of all oats. Since this essentially a "raw" breakfast it is important to start by soaking the groats for 8 hrs to remove phytic acid (an organic acid in which phosphorous is bound) in the outer layer or bran. Untreated phytic acid can combine with calcium, magnesium, copper, iron especially zinc in the intestinal track and block their absorption. I soak a large quantity and then keep it in the freezer for quick use in this recipe. A basic soak for 1 cup is as follows:

Ingredients:

• 1 cup raw, groats
• 2 cups warm water (room temp, and enough to cover and have room to swell)
• 1 Tbsp acidic medium (coconut keifer, keifer, yogurt, buttermilk, lemon juice, apple cider vinegar).

Preparation:

1. Soak for 8-24 hours (the longer the better)
2. Drain and rinse real well.

For the breakfast use  1/2 cup of groats to 1 cup of almond milk. From there its game on as far what toppings you put in. Just keep in mind they need to be up to the task of soaking for days. Fresh fruit is not advised.

For jar #1 I added:
Raw hemp seeds-  provides a rich array of minerals including zinc, calcium, phosphorous, magnesium and iron.
Goji berries- supports immune system and inhibits oxidative stress
Raw Almonds- healthy fats
Dried unsweetened mango-  tartaric acid, malic acid, and a trace of citric acid found in the fruit help to maintain the alkali reserve of the body.
Maca powder- helps balance hormones in men and women

Jar #2 has:
Dried unsweetened cherries- rich in two important flavonoids, isoqueritrin and queritrin, which act as antioxidants and work to eliminate byproducts of oxidative stress
Raw Cacao nibs-rich source of antioxidants such as procyanidins and flavanoids
Raw Almonds