Ina Garten’s Eaten the Same Thing for Breakfast Every Day for Years (2024)
When Good Charlotte sang about the lifestyles of the rich and famous, I don't think they were talking about breakfast. And yet, when it comes to celebrities and celebrity chefs, the first thing I want to know is how they're starting off their day. From Michelle Obama's PB & J to Al Roker's "homemade McGriddle", I love to hear what people are sitting down to for the most important meal of the day.
Many people find themselves eating the same thing day in and day out. I did not expect Ina Garten, noted TV host and cookbook author, to be one of them. I would have thought she was cooking elaborate, decadent breakfasts for herself and husband Jeffrey, like those in her cookbooks. But it turns out, even Garten is a creature of habit and has been eating the same, super simple breakfast for decades. What's even more shocking? She makes it in the microwave. Here's why Ina turns to oatmeal for breakfast every morning.
Not just any old oatmeal will do when it comes to the Barefoot Contessa. "I've had the same thing for breakfast every single day for ten years: coffee and McCann’s quick-cooking Irish oatmeal," Garten told Bon Appétit in a 2017 article. And her love of the stuff is well-documented. One quick search on the internet will reveal article after article mentioning Garten's infatuation with oatmeal.
For those unfamiliar with McCann's, it's just one brand of quick-cooking oats. Quick-cooking oats fall somewhere between old-fashioned oats and instant oatmeal; The oats are steamed, then rolled so that they cook faster than old-fashioned oats, in just a few minutes. And that's just what Garten does—in the microwave, no less.
"I make my oatmeal in my microwave—it's so easy! I put 1/3 cup quick-cooking oats (I like McCann's) in a bowl, add 1 cup of water, then microwave it on high for 4 minutes," Garten wrote in a Q&A on her website.
Sometimes she'll swap milk for water, but one ingredient stays the same: salt.
"Most people don’t do their oatmeal with salt, and I think that without it, it just tastes like wallpaper paste.Withsalt, I think it’s delicious," Ina added. As we know, salt can do wonders to actually highlight sweeter dishes, but even without adding sweet toppings it just makes oatmeal taste, well, more oat-y.
From there, Garten tops the oatmeal "with a little bit of butter, and a drizzle of maple syrup," although you could take this basic recipe sweet or savory (hello Cacio-Oat Pepe!). On the weekends, Garten makes a more elaborate version on the stovetop with fresh and dried fruit. If you decide to add dried fruit, take a (genius) tip from Garten and put the lid on your pot for a minute or two after adding the fruit. The steam in the pot will soften the fruit to the perfect, chewy-but-not-too-chewy consistency.
Ina calls this dish not only her favorite breakfast, but one of her favorite comfort foods in general. And it makes sense. When you spend day after day—nay, year after year—testing hundreds of recipes, it's nice to have a neutral start to the day, a sort of landing ground for your palate. And, if you're to believe my 99-year-old grandma, starting your day with the same breakfast may also just be the secret to longevity, too.
Store-bought and microwaved is fine. Ina Garten's go-to for her daily starter is McCann's Quick Cooking Rolled Irish Oats. The oats are steamed, rolled, and then cut thin and flat, which allows for their quick cooking time — the brand suggests that three minutes in the microwave is all that's needed.
And that's just what Garten does—in the microwave, no less. "I make my oatmeal in my microwave—it's so easy! I put 1/3 cup quick-cooking oats (I like McCann's) in a bowl, add 1 cup of water, then microwave it on high for 4 minutes," Garten wrote in a Q&A on her website.
Whether it's steel-cut or rolled, quick-cooking or instant, oatmeal is good for you, experts say—with a few caveats. Oatmeal is rich in fiber, which promotes fullness, eases the insulin response, and benefits gut health. It's also a source of vitamins B and E, and minerals such as magnesium.
Naturally nourishing, high in fiber, and antioxidant rich, this powerful breakfast will keep you energized and focused. Every element of the overnight oats recipe, from the powerhouse base to each add-on item, provides several benefits for overall nutrition and health.
To follow this 7-day diet, people start off with eating just oatmeal for all three meals of the day for the first two days, followed by eating oatmeal for at least two meals of the day for the next two days. Finally, dieters consume oatmeal for just one meal of the day for the remaining three days.
The difference between baked oatmeal and baked oats is all in the texture. And getting that cake-like texture comes from adding the egg, but also blending the ingredients well.
If you are making oats for weight gain then you must add oats with full cream milk or creamy yogurt. Just providing yourself 50 grams of oats with 300 ml of whole milk including nuts and dried fruits, will help in adding extra calories by many health benefits.
Oats contain antinutrients such as phytic acid, which can hinder the absorption of certain minerals like iron, zinc, and calcium. Soaking or fermenting oats before consumption can help reduce the phytate content and improve nutrient absorption.
The healthiest breakfast foods include a protein, healthy fat and source of carbohydrates, according to Smolen. For a healthy breakfast, consider eating foods like oatmeal with nut butter, avocado toast with an egg, chia seed pudding or a greek yogurt parfait with nuts and berries.
Overnight oats are perfectly safe to be eaten every day. You may even eat them every morning if you like. However, some say that they feel oats give them digestive issues; overnight oats are not unsafe for those without medical conditions that affect digestion.
The intensity of heat while cooking is the contributing factor, lower the heat better the nutrient availability. When you soak the oats overnight, it's almost like you're cooking them, but the process is much longer and slower, and it's done without heat. Hence, it is more nutrient rich than cooked version.
If that's a little too luxe, Garten has also praised a more modestly priced butter. In response to a question posted on her website, Garten once said that she often uses Cabot Creamery butter to cook with, before adding that “there are many good brands of butters available.”
The self-taught culinary genius, colloquially known as the Barefoot Contessa, is a fan of a particular fast food chain. Unlikely as it sounds for a celeb chef who founded a store known for specialty and gourmet foods, Ina Garten stands firmly by her love for the West Coast's famed In-N-Out Burger.
Breakfast is often called 'the most important meal of the day', and for good reason. As the name suggests, breakfast breaks the overnight fasting period. It replenishes your supply of glucose to boost your energy levels and alertness, while also providing other essential nutrients required for good health.
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Introduction: My name is Madonna Wisozk, I am a attractive, healthy, thoughtful, faithful, open, vivacious, zany person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.
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