Food fascination: oats

Recently, oats have been making an appearance in my diet. In the form of porridge and yummy cranberry and pomegranate oat bars which tick the sweet box for that mid-afternoon craving that usually hits us office workers. 

I can't explain the sudden influx of oats in my diet except that they bring me comfort. When I was younger, I always remember those cold, crisp afternoons in winter that my granny would come to collect me from school. We would walk back to my house, with frozen fingers and toes and upon arrival, the first thing my granny would do is get busy in the kitchen. The result; a little warming bowl of porridge topped with brown sugar and cinnamon. It was comforting, creamy, nutritious and filled a whole in my 6 year old, post-school hungry stomach. 

Maybe it has something to do with the "colder" weather starting to make an appearance in Cyprus, or maybe it is just my brain craving something that brings back happy memories of my childhood. But starting my morning with a little warm bowl of oats really has made a difference to my day. And my hunger levels. Maybe it has something to do with the zinc and B vitamins in oats that are known to be mood enhancers. And if you need some oat inspiration look no further than here and here.