let’s talk oats!

So very tiny but oh so nutritious! These little grains pack a real punch when it comes to keeping you feeling full for a number of hours, keeping your blood sugar balanced, supporting weight loss and treating skin complaints - what’s not to love!

Being a Scot, my life is ‘full of oats’ and has been ever since I can remember! When I was young, you could have done a ‘survey’ around the playground and ask the pupils what they had for breakfast and most would say porridge - breakfast cereals in their engagingly-colourful boxes with ‘free gifts’ inside were a long way off then!

And oats were not only for breakfast in our daily bowl of porridge! They were used as toppings for all manner of puddings (think delicious rhubarb or apple crumble!) or savoury bakes atop fish, chicken and vegetables. They were also used to thicken soups and stews and were involved in many breads, scones and flapjack recipes.

CLICK ON ANY OF THE IMAGES TO ACCESS MY RECIPES WHICH INCLUDE OATS

I make no apologies for including Nick Barnard in this article. Despite the fact that he is ‘not a Scot’, he is a great champion of oats having worked (with his wife and his amazing team) over the last 15 years on the Rude Health products, which you will find on supermarket shelves since their first foray into the market with their Ultimate Muesli - which, naturally included oats!

Sadly, I have as yet to head to Carrbridge, near Aviemore in the north of Scotland to experience the Golden Spurtle Trophy, awarding the winner with the World Porridge Making Champion which takes place every year - since 1994. I believe the trophy is very fiercely-fought and the whole area ‘talks porridge’ throughout with bagpipes, loads of tartan and the rest! This year, due to Covid-19 restrictions they are asking competitors from around the globe to send in their videos where the very best will be tested then the Virtual Spurtler 2020 will be awarded to the winner. Click here for a delightful article from Clarissa Wei, freelance journalist on eater.com

I have advised a number of people over the years to ‘bathe in oats’ for skin conditions with good results. Avenanthramides are the principle polyphenol antioxidant present in oats, which have been shown to decrease inflammation associated with allergy and itch in skin cells. The high concentration of starches and beta glucans is responsible for the protective and water-holding functions of oat, while the saponin component in oats provides a cleansing activity. The whole process is ridiculously-easy and cheap (although the bath has to be well-scrubbed after your 15/20 mins of soaking!) Click here for a ‘how-to’.