Comments on: Making Your Own Homemade Oatmeal Packets: A Visual Guide and Cost Analysis

By: Julie

Julie — Thu, 03 Mar 2011 16:17:26 +0000

I do this all the time!! I reuse my plastic snack baggies, too. I hate the weird processed flakes in the Quaker packets, I like the big chunky oats in the DIY version. I add sugar, allspice, cinnamon, ginger and a dash of nutmeg, and eliminate the salt (I’m watching my sodium). Sometimes I add ground flax seed. It’s So. Damn. Good. I’m never going back to packets.

By: Steph K

Steph K — Wed, 02 Mar 2011 20:25:24 +0000

“Cofffee Mate” dairy subsitute is shelf-stable, but contains hydrogenated oils and other ingredients you might not wish to eat.

Powdered milk, natural soy drink powder -or just adding regular milk or soy milk on preparation- is a healthier choice.

By: Dominique

Dominique — Thu, 14 Oct 2010 23:49:42 +0000

WOW! A lot of oatmeal fans here, I see. I confess, I love the convenience of instant oatmeal, but I rarely use it, since the cost & waste from the packaging irks me. I’m going to try this recipe – as for the non-dairy creamer being bad … I’m lactose intolerant, and powdered milk is MURDER on my poor system. Any suggestions on a dry lactose free cream replacement for the mix, other than Coffee-mate (or generic)?
Also, so many people recommend steel-cut oats … is it possible to chop the steel-cut oats into smaller pieces and mix them with the instant? Would that work, or would the SC oats affect the cooking time too much?

By: Christy

Christy — Sat, 07 Aug 2010 18:55:19 +0000

When pairing coupons and sales, I can usually get Quaker instant packets at $1.00 a box or less (8 packets in a box). Since I have 2 computers, I can print out 4 coupons at a time. The last time I stockpiled, I bought a kind with blueberries!

By: Kate

Kate — Fri, 06 Aug 2010 17:41:41 +0000

another daily oatmeal-eater here. I second #96 Katey in that if you add oat bran, you up the nutrition significantly, and add to the creaminess (it’s quick and great at absorbing too much water). And I agree with everyone saying: the bigger the oat flakes, the healthier. Non-dairy creamer= BAD.
p.s. I also don’t think honey is the healthier choice, it’s almost completely fructose.

By: Paula

Paula — Wed, 05 May 2010 20:47:08 +0000

I microwave my water for about 2 minutes. Then tip in just a few grains of oatmeal and the carriers. The water will bubble, but not overflow. Add a bit more to be sure I’ve “neutralized” the volcano chances, and then pour in the balance. I let the cup rest for a couple of minutes on my desk, stir and enjoy. It always comes out perfectly.

By: liz

liz — Sat, 17 Apr 2010 17:27:45 +0000

This is great for backpacking. Add everything in a freezer ziploc bag. You can just add boiling water, zip up and then eat. Easy clean up and pack out the baggies.

By: Vanessa

Vanessa — Mon, 07 Sep 2009 01:24:49 +0000

Good grief, it’s just oatmeal. I think the idea behind the post is that when you find yourself eating and enjoying A LOT of a certain item, sometimes it is fun and satisfying if you can make it yourself at home and come out with a tastier or economical manner. I think some of these steel-cut oat people need to relax a bit – with your crazed attitude, I will think twice before trying them!!! We all have a not-so authentic version of “real food” that we like – cool whip vs. whipped cream, parboiled white rice instead of brown, etc…. A touch of powdered creamer and some instant oats in homemade instant oatmeal is not the evil threat to America than you seem to think it is!

By: CL

CL — Thu, 09 Jul 2009 21:16:53 +0000

Thanks for the tip.

I hoard some packages of splenda from work and mix that with the cinnamon.

I also picked up 3 tubs of oatmeal from the 99 cents store.

Overall, I literally spent $3 on 120 bags.

By: Molly

Molly — Fri, 26 Jun 2009 15:31:13 +0000

I still love this recipe. I make it monthly. I’ve also shared it with multiple coworkers. Thanks!

By: lee

lee — Wed, 24 Jun 2009 22:50:58 +0000

ditto on soaking the “old fashioned” oats– bought at the bulk store– overnight. then they cook in less than 5 minutes.
1/2 c. oats (or 1/3 depending on your tastes) with 1 c. water and a pinch of salt if desired, into a pot while getting ready for bed.

By: Mel

Mel — Fri, 19 Jun 2009 13:32:31 +0000

I liked this post, they look exactly like the store pre-packaged variety. However, I still go the old fashioned way, half-cup of oats on the stove, 3/4 cup of milk (recently discovered lactose intolerance so I now use bonsoy), maple syrup or cinnamon and whatever fruit is around for flavour. I know traditional steel cut are better and I used to use these but I’m now buying rolled quick oats (with nothing added) just to save time. I know the energy is released quicker but I figure it’s still healthy.

By: Annie

Annie — Mon, 25 May 2009 20:29:13 +0000

This is the second time I am making these packets. I love having them on hand at my office. Any time I get hungry (snacks and other meals) I grab a spare coffee mug, dump and go. I even have other staff members asking for them. Thanks so much for this great idea!

Cheers!

By: fullfaun

fullfaun — Sun, 10 May 2009 16:11:57 +0000

My niece and nephews LOVE peaches and cream oatmeal and have eaten it for breakfast, lunch and dinner a few days. This is great. Thank you thank you thank you!!!!!

By: Charli Gordon

Charli Gordon — Mon, 23 Mar 2009 09:21:39 +0000

I have been doing this for years, especially when I worked and had an early morning schedule. The prepackaged oatmeal was always too sweet and contained cinnamon, which I don’t like in my oatmeal. I prefer raisins and walnuts/almonds and bananas, no sugar, salt or cinnamon. Even if it cost more, the fact that you get it “your way” is the appealing thing for me. I use the snack bags and Glad 1/2 and 1 cup plastic bowls are great to pack things in serving sizes. This really helps when you are eating healthy or trying to lose weight.

By: daniel

daniel — Wed, 04 Mar 2009 03:04:09 +0000

you can go to sam’s club or some other wholesale store and buy a 55 variety pack of quaker instant oatmeal for less than $15.

It comes out to around a quarter per packet. You lose.

By: Lauren

Lauren — Tue, 20 Jan 2009 16:44:19 +0000

I made the oatmeal packets, great hit with the kids. I am now looking foward to pre making alot more stuff to save money.

By: Tina

Tina — Wed, 31 Dec 2008 06:11:51 +0000

Four out of the five people in my house eat oatmeal several days a week…and I had the same thought you did. “Are we wasting money on this instant stuff?” A quick Google search and here I am! Thanks so much for taking the time make such a detailed post.

Here are two things I’m thinking…and that will be easy to modify making my own packets. First, I can make larger servings. My children are all three typically slim, active kids…and they eat two packets of Quaker Instant. Second, because much of our oatmeal is made at 6:45 in the morning, with hungry but still-sleepy kids waiting, speed is the key. Because I can use so many packets before they ever had a chance to go bad, I’m going to go ahead and add butter to the packets and just keep them in the fridge. (This also allows me to control the kids’ intake of butter.) Fridge…bowl…microwave…warm, full tummies!

I can even make large, family-size packets assuming all three kids are eating it. And, like Susan (who posted a comment right before me), I’m glad to avoid some of the chemicals added to instant foods.

Thanks, again! – Tina

By: Susan

Susan — Fri, 26 Dec 2008 14:40:34 +0000

try using a couple of good shakes of pumpkin pie spice. I store my oatmeal, brown sugar etc. in mason jars and while I am making my coffee I just take a scoop of oatmeal with a shake or two of salt I spoonful of brown sugar and a shake or two of cinnamon and pumpkin pie spice and I am done. The ingredients stay fresh and it probably takes me the same amount of time it would take to do the process with filling, sealing emptying and storing a packet. All the mason jars line my kitchen windowsill (which is in the shade all day every day) Any time companies put things in individual packs your eating so many more chemicals it is scary. Tastes much better to do it yourself.

By: Janel

Janel — Mon, 27 Oct 2008 18:11:03 +0000

I love the blueberry and cream idea. Thanks for the great analysis. I’m sold.