Extra Protein Cinnamon Oatmeal

I know, you are all probably tired of the oatmeal posts. I eat a lot of oatmeal. I love how it makes me feel. It's a warm, nutritious way to start the day and that is always a good thing! The options are unlimited as far as flavors go. I have even seen people go the savory route. I am not quite there yet, but when I saw this on Eat Live Run a while back, I thought it sounded interesting. This is the time of year when everyone is trying to make changes for the better in their diets, so I thought I would share this little experiment. Since I don't eat meat, I really like finding new and different ways to get protein in my diet. I have started eating more proteins at lunch and dinner, but I really wanted a way to add some protein to my oats. I was a little nervous about adding egg whites to my oatmeal. I wasn't sure if I would end up with an oatmeal omelet. So, since I was feeling a little adventuresome this morning, I went for it. I can't say how great this was! It did not taste like egg at all. This bowl of oatmeal was super thick and creamy! I loved the texture! So, if you are felling like you need a little extra boost in the protein department, you should definitely give this a try!

Cinnamon Vanilla Egg White Oatmeal
serves one

1/2 cup oats (quick cooking, regular or gluten free)
1/4 cup unsweetened applesauce
3 TBSP egg whites (I bought the kind in the carton)
1 1/4 cup water
5 drops NuNaturals Vanilla Stevia
cinnamon
sweetener of your choice
Almond milk on top

Mix everything together and microwave in 1 minutes intervals. Stir like crazy in between microwaving. Cooked to your desired consistency. The length of time you cook it will depend on what type of oats you are eating. Sweeten it however you like and then pour a little almond milk on top.
I used Vanilla Stevia in this bowl of oats. The flavor is incredible! It gives a nice sweetness to the oats with a hint of vanilla.