National Oatmeal Month is in January, so everyone is encouraged to make themselves a bowl of this grain that has been enjoyed by humankind for at least 10,000 years, and maybe even longer.

Even though this breakfast food has gained a bad reputation over the past few decades for being considered tasteless or boring, the truth is that it can form the basis of hundreds of tasty snacks.

If you don’t believe us, let us name a few of them: oatmeal raisin cookies, oatmeal pancakes, berry oatmeal bake, and tropical oatmeal smoothies. And those are just a few of the things that can be made during this tasty month.

The History of Oatmeal

In ancient China, oatmeal was cultivated for thousands of years, but it wasn’t until the Greeks that they turned it into a porridge-style dish like the way oatmeal is now served for breakfast. Although the Romans mainly used oats to feed their horses and didn’t have much of a taste for it, other cultures throughout history have embraced it.

For example, it was (and still is) extremely popular in Germany and Switzerland, where it is soaked overnight in milk with cinnamon and then served as a breakfast cereal the next morning. It also became popular in the U.S., and one of the most popular ways it’s enjoyed is with maple syrup.

Some Quick Facts About Oatmeal

Let’s examine some quick points about oatmeal that we think everyone should know. Let’s check them out below.

• Only 5% of the world’s crop of oats is eaten by humans. The rest is used to feed livestock.
• The number one way oatmeal is eaten is as a breakfast cereal.
• The number two way that oatmeal is used in a recipe is in oatmeal cookies.
• The number three way that oatmeal is used in a recipe is in meatloaf.
• Oatmeal has an average national cost of about 42 cents per serving.
• Eating oatmeal on a regular basis significantly reduces a person’s risk of heart disease.

Observing National Oatmeal Month

Anyone who loves oatmeal can celebrate this month, and January is a good month for having a hot bowl of oatmeal. This is especially true when it’s served with fruit and/or nuts.

It can also be worked into a smoothie, made into cookies, or turned into some other kind of dessert. After a person finds the oatmeal recipe that suits them best, they should then take a few moments to post a picture of it online using the hashtag #NationalOatmealMonth.