AIBU to think that porridge is the most cost effective breakfast

[Howcanwehelp]

Two scoops of porridge oats, two cups of milk, two of water, some apple juice and currants to taste.
Fed me and two energetic boys. This must be the most cost effective and healthy breakfast? I suppose there's the gas to cook it as well.

How do you all find time to cook it? And wash pots.

We soak the oats in the water/whey* overnight and then microwave it in the same bowl/s.

*We make yoghurt and drain it, the whey goes into a number of items (protein drinks, a little in bread dough, some soups).

To it having different effects on people, it might depend on the type of oats (rolled or not, etc) they have different types of nutrition as rolling them removes the outside husk vs steel cut where some of it remains. Some of the 'ready' ones have sugar mixed into them already. The amount you have, how you prepare it, it's all variable.

The Co-Op does really nice ones - in a black cereal box, jumbo rolled oats. It is still quite cost effective, admittedly nowhere near as cheap as the big sacks.

Another microwaving porridge lover here. I actually find it is one of the easiest breakfasts to eat.

Sometimes I have planned ahead and turned the costs in to Bircher muesli which is quite agreeable. But Good old porridge I'd the best

It most probably is but it doesn't make me feel fuller for longer. That's a load of bollocks.

I prefer eggs for breakfast as they last longer. The most ‘cost effective’ ingrediant though is probably potatoes. You can get 7kg for £3 and added to dishes they make them go further - for example adding to eggs / fish / meat mean you need fewer of the expensive ingrediants.

I'm glad I'm not the only one left starved by porridge! I used to make it with semi-skimmed milk and add berries, occasionally some yoghurt, honey or nut butter. I really tried, it just never filled me up, even when I ate it alongside drinking lots of water. I really felt like I was doing something wrong- everyone RAVES about it.

To answer pp asking about having time to make it on a work day though, I used to pre-mix mine the night before & pop it in a sistema microwave bowl. Micro it in the morning and then add fruit I'd also pre measured out in a little tuppaware. I hate "hot" things - I like my soup, tea etc tepid, so I'd put it in my lunchbox & either it at work or on my commute, it usually stayed warm enough to eat without being tongue-burningly hot.

I do greek yoghurt now, so measure that plus fruit out the night before, grab it out the fridge and eat at desk when I get in. I never keep brekky stuff at work in case it gets eaten for me or I get really stuck on a train & need to eat.

Lol there’s a difference here between people who weigh their porridge for a healthy portion and those who dump it in a bowl without concern. 30-50g of oats is unlikely to get you through a whole morning. 200g would probably but then those are far too many carbs in one sitting.

That might be a good point, @GrumpyHoonMain. I usually have 40g but I also bulk it out with protein - without it, I think I'd be hungry again soon.

Ds(16) soaks his 45g oats in milk overnight and then makes himself porridge, 3.5 mins in the microwave, every morning mixing in a chopped banana and a scoop of flavourless protein powder and has with a splash of more milk. Occasionally has it for a quick supper if hungry at night too.

It is delicious with a nice dollop of jam mixed in.

45g oats, half water, half soy milk and a handful of soft fruit from the garden. My regular start to the day!

Cheap yes, tast...no. I cannot stomach it at all. It makes me gag.

Agree. Porridge is a very filling and economical breakfast. I love porridge in the winter, especially with blueberries and maple syrup/soft brown sugar on top.

I always use water rather than milk - for reasons of taste rather than economy.

@MrsToothyBitch

Was the least cost effective for me. It never filled me up- it left me bloody ravenous & requiring ever more snacks to make it through to lunch! I swapped to greek yoghurt for my waistline & my budget!

Exactly the same for me, I winder why that is. When people say it’s filling and great I think 🤔 nope!

@Macncheeseballs

Yes I agree, it's cheap, filling and nutritious, dont know why more people dont eat it

It doesn't fill me up at all.

I also can't stand the texture.

I'll stick to brown toast thanks.

It is one of the only things that fills me up. I think it's great. I make mine with milk to get the extra fat. I find milk cheap enough anyway :)

Love porridge but I have a long term silent issue with how my in laws make it, it gets me everytime I see it (lighthearted) because a) yuck and b) its just not porridge

They cook with water and salt. The result is a grey slop that actually holds together after being in the bowl 5 mins... if you tipped it out, it would hold the shape of the bowl. The saltiness is crazy, especially when they then sprinkle sugar on top (and a splash of milk, which I get is a common thing so I'll accept that one). I once tried it and genuinely thought they had made a mistake with the quantity of salt. I honestly dont think they taste it any more. The number of times I've had to politely refuse any. It's just so... grey.

And they laugh at my porridge, which is jumbo oats and milk, like a lovely creamy rice pudding, sometimes with dollop of greek yoghurt and fresh berries.

Creamy goodness or grey gruely wallpaper paste. No competition, surely??? They take such pride in it, the "right" way of doing porridge it puts my teeth on edge. One day at the breakfast table I'll snap and start yelling "that's not porridge! That's not even nice!" Then run away screaming.

Ps I do like them

I love porridge (well, unless it's salted) but in no way does it fill me up all morning.
I eat breakfast about 6.30 am and if I have porridge I am ravenous by 8.00am
A scrambled egg and a rasher of bacon keeps me full until 11.00 when I have a few almonds.

Just cant face a bowl of porridge first thing! Usually have brown/grain toast with Marmite /peanut butter .Tasty and filling! Also like a boiled egg and soldiers as well!

I love it and it doesn't leave me hungry at all. I have it with half milk half water and often fruit. Sometimes nuts or a tablespoon of yogurt. It was recommended to me by a dietitian for weight loss in fact. Certainly worked.

Whole milk all the way, gold top if we've got it.
Me DS & DD each smash a big bowl every morning with fruit added. In summer its especially cheap as we use whatever fruit we have in the garden or can swap with neighbours. DS in particular is obsessed with blackberries and Purple Porridge Month (August) is eagerly awaited.

Ps never understand ths people who make it with just water. The milk is the protein, it's the bit that keeps you full!

Wow, my most popular thread ever and it's about porridge!

YANBU. Wish I liked it!

I eat porridge most mornings, usually I just heat it in the microwave because every time I make it in a pan it turns into a gloopy slop (too much stirring I think, but if I don't stir I burn the bottom of the pan!)
For those who are really short of time in the morning - put your porridge and milk in a bowl the night before, then warm for 2 mins in the microwave in the morning- makes perfect creamy oats.
I also like overnight oats cold if made with some yoghurt and berries.