Recipe: Oatmeal!

Alameda County Community Food Bank provides food for 49,000 people each week — so we take healthy food seriously.

One way we do this is by putting farm-fresh fruits and vegetables first. We distributed 13 million pounds of seasonal produce last year alone.

Another is through nutrition education and Cooking Matters classes, which empower our agencies and clients to shop for and prepare balanced meals even on tight budgets. This oatmeal recipe illustrates two tips we use in the classes.

Don't forget breakfast. You've often heard breakfast is the most important meal of the day. That's because feeling full and energized in the morning helps you not overeat the rest of the day. You should try to include plenty of fiber, and at least three food groups. This recipe features grains, fruit and protein.

Experiment! This recipe calls for apple juice, but if you don't have any around or don't like it, you could use low-fat milk or water instead. Fresh apples out of season? Try some fresh or frozen berries, nuts, or dried fruit like raisins or mango pieces. The recipe is just a starting point -- let your tastes guide you!

Apple Cinammon Oatmeal

Ingredients

• 1 1/2 cups 100% apple juice
• 1 cup quick-cooking oats
• 1 large apple, cored and cut into bite-sized chunks
• 1/2 teaspoon ground cinammon
• 1/8 teaspoon salt (optional)
• Small handful of nuts (optional)

Preparation

1. Combine all ingredients in a medium, microwave-safe bowl.
2. Place in microwave uncovered and cook on high for about 2 minutes.
3. Stir and let cool for one minute before serving.

Try this at home! It's so quick, easy and yummy, you'll never have an excuse to skip breakfast again.