Our little girl (Rachel) has a Strawberry Shortcake Doll that smells just like this oatmeal. That and the name has made this a famous and healthy breakfast at our house. The nutritional content of strawberries make this sweet fruit a valuable addition. High in antioxidants which help our cells protect our bodies from damage – preventing disease and aging. They have an excellent source of vitamin C which is destroyed when heated, so refrain from cooking them at high temperatures.
An easy way to enhance the omega 3 and fibre content of this meal is to add ground flax seeds. It has been said that “they are tiny but mighty.” Flax seeds need to be ground in order to make the nutrients available to our systems. If they are not ground they will simply pass through. The oil in flax is unsaturated which means that it is prone to oxidation, unless stored correctly. I suppose that is why it is more common to find flax seeds rather than already ground flax meal at the grocery store. Flax seeds stored in a cool dark place will last a year and flax meal stored in a cool dark place will stay fresh for a couple of months. Flax seeds are high in B vitamins, manganese, and magnesium. In addition. they are rich in omega 3 fatty acids which aid against inflammation, a symptom linked to many of our most common diseases such as heart disease and some cancers. The omega 3 and 6 balance is something of great importance. Generally it’s easy to consume an abundance of omega 6 fatty acids as our North American diets are high in corn oil, peanuts, and soy. Special attention needs to be given to get the omega 3 levels up and that is why including ground flax, fish and walnuts to your diet may enhance your health.
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