Mother's Day Recipe Rehab: Baked Oatmeal

It's a common tradition to make breakfast for mom on Mother's Day, so this recipe rehab will give you a healthy option to prepare for her. My mother has been adamant about eating oatmeal for breakfast ever since she was diagnosed with high cholesterol. Oatmeal is a great source of soluble fiber that has been proven to lower cholesterol. Additionally, it tends to be low in fat and calories as well -- that is, if you can prevent yourself from loading it up with brown sugar and butter. It's really the toppings that make oatmeal so tasty, but some of those tasty toppers however can get pretty high in calories.

I will prepare this recipe for baked oatmeal as a healthy alternative. By itself, oatmeal can be pretty much flavorless, and even though it has fiber, it is a meal high in carbohydrates. I will boost the nutrition and flavor of oatmeal by adding fruit for sweetness, eggs and nuts for protein, and milk for calcium. This creates a well-rounded breakfast that is not only good for your cholesterol levels, but it contains health antioxidants and protein to boost your energy level.

This recipe can be made the night before and then baked in the morning for those of you who like to take it slow in the mornings.

Ingredients:
3 cups mixed berries (fresh or frozen)
1 tablespoon sugar
3 cups oats
3 eggs, beaten
1 cup unsweetened applesauce
1 tablespoon ground cinnamon
2 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
3 cups skim milk
1/4 cup walnuts, crushed

Instructions:
1. Preheat oven to 325°F. Spray an 8 x 8 inch square pan with non-stick cooking spray.
2. Line the bottom of the pan with the berries. Sprinkle with the sugar.
3. In a medium bowl, mix together the remaining ingredients. Pour over the top of the berries.
4. Bake for about 45 minutes until the top is golden brown. Serve warm.

Serves: 6

Nutrition Content (per serving):
315 calories, 7 g fat, 1 g saturated fat, 53 g carbohydrates, 8 g fiber, 15 g protein, 476 mg sodium, 290 mg calcium

For another healthy breakfast option, try my Banana French Toast.

Readers, I would love to hear from you! Please send me your favorite fattening recipes that need a RECIPE REHAB! Everything from your mom's meatloaf to your kid's favorite dessert -- let me lighten it up.

Celebrity dietitian and motivational life coach, Tanya Zuckerbrot, author of www.ffactordiet.com and founder of www.skinnyandthecity.com, has helped thousands of people lose weight and keep it off with her program. Her philosophy? Tanya believes you should never sacrifice taste, even when you're eating healthy foods. Have a recipe in need of rehab? Send us your recipe!