It’s National Porridge Week during October and we’ve gone all oaty to celebrate. Here are 10 Super Delicious Super Healthy Oatmeal Recipes:

Did you know that Irish primary teachers think breakfast is more important than lunch? The majority of teachers surveyed* (97%) said they notice when their pupils haven’t had a breakfast. The main tell-tale signs are poor concentration (55%) and no energy (43%), but pupils without a breakfast can also be irritable (21%) and restless in class (19%). 53% of teachers surveyed said that students who hadn’t eaten breakfast showed all of these signs.

85% of teachers surveyed said they would like to see more emphasis placed on breakfast in the school’s healthy eating policy. Only 10% said that their school provides breakfast for the children, resulting in one in four teachers actually keeping food in the classroom just in case a child needs it.

* From a survey among primary school teachers commissioned by Flahavan’s and Keelings to mark the start of National Porridge Week. Flahavan’s and Keeling have come together with the Share a Breakfast Moment campaign to educate families on the importance of a healthy start to the day. One of the highlights of the campaign is a primary schools initiative that features the Brekkie Bus, which will be visiting a number of primary schools and serving up delicious porridge and fruit combinations.

Here are 10 delicious oaty recipes you can make with the kids:

#1. Banana & Berry Oaty Bread

Makes 12 slices
Preparation 10 mins; cooking time 45 mins

Ingredients

• 125g Greek yogurt
• 2 bananas mashed – ripe work better
• 100g Keelings berries (strawberries, raspberries and blueberries would all work with this bread)
• 2 large eggs
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 100g brown sugar
• 200g self raising flour
• 100g Flahavan’s Progress Oats
• 75g Flahavan’s Oat Bran

Method

1. Preheat the oven to 180C.
2. Combine the yogurt, bananas, berries and eggs together and mixed well.
3. Stir in the vanilla and brown sugar until combined.
4. Fold in the flour and Oat Bran then follow with the oats.
5. Transfer the mixture to a bread pan and then bake for 40-45 minutes or until cooked through.
6. Remove and allow to cool for about 10 minutes before removing from the pan and transferring to a cooling rack.

#2. Berry Energy Bites

Makes about 12

Ingredients

• 125g Flahavan’s Progress Oats
• 125g mashed Keelings strawberries & raspberries
• 60g ground almonds
• 1 tablespoon of peanut or almond butter
• 1 tablespoon honey

Method

1. Blend all of the ingredients together until you have made a paste.
2. Once a paste is created, roll the balls into little balls.
3. Once the balls are formed place them in an air tight container in the refrigerator overnight.
4. An optional extra would be to roll the balls in some crushed nuts, flaked coconut or chia seeds.

Berry Overnight Oats

Makes 4

Ingredients

• 200g Flahavan’s Progress Oats or Flahavans Jumbo Oats
• 100g Keelings strawberries
• 125g Keelings raspberries
• 1 dessert spoon chia seeds
• 250ml milk
• 125g vanilla yogurt (plain will work too and you could add 1 tsp of vanilla extract)
• 1 tablespoon honey

Method

1. Blend strawberries, raspberries, milk, and yogurt together until pureed.
2. Transfer into bowl and stir in the oats and seeds until well combined.
3. Cover and place in the refrigerator for at least 2 hours or overnight.
4. Before serving add milk to gain desired consistency.
5. Top with some berries and serve.

#4. Blackberry Oat Smoothie

Serves 2

Ingredients

• 125g of Keelings Blackberries
• 40g Flahavan’s Progress Oats
• 1 Banana
• 170g Greek or Natural Yogurt
• 150ml water
• 1 tablespoon honey

Method

1. Blend the Blueberries, oats, banana, yogurt, honey and water together in a blender or Nutribullet until smooth.
2. Feel free to add more or less water depending on your desired consistency.
3. Pour into chilled glasses. Serve.

#5. Blueberry Oat Breakfast Bars

Makes 12 bars
Prep time 8 mins; baking time 15 mins

Ingredients

• 1 Banana
• 50g Brown Sugar
• 50ml Sunflower Oil
• 200g Flahavan’s Progress Oats
• 50g Flahavan’s Oat Bran
• 75g Keelings Blueberries
• 4 tbsp honey
• 2 tbsp Sunflower Seeds
• 2 tbsp Chia Seeds
• 2 tbsp Pumpkin Seeds
• 1 tbsp sunflower oil for greasing

Method

1. Preheat the oven to 160’C.
2. Mash bananas and mix with brown sugar, honey and sunflower oil
3. Add oats and oat bran, mix well.
4. Gently mix through blueberries
5. Grease a baking tray and spoon in oat mixture
6. Sprinkle over seeds and press into oat mixture
7. Bake for 12-15mins until golden and set.
8. Leave to cool slightly then cut into bars.