During the last season of NBC’s The Biggest Loser, the fitness trainers were touting Quaker Weight Control Oatmeal as a great breakfast choice for anyone on a weight loss plan. Quaker’s site (www.quakeroatmeal.com) describes their Weight Control Oatmeal as “an instant oatmeal that is designed to help you meet your weight loss goals”. I love oatmeal, and I am always searching for easy, satisfying, low-calorie breakfast options, so my interested was piqued.
My personal experience with Quaker Weight Control Oatmeal:
I purchased the Cinnamon variety first. I immediately noticed that the oatmeal has six grams of fiber per serving. I knew from my weight loss efforts in the past that a high fiber breakfast (five grams or more) will keep one feeling full longer, so this was a check in the plus column for me even before I tasted the product.
When I first prepared the Cinnamon variety, I added one cup of skim milk to the packet, mixed it together in a microwave-safe bowl, and heated it for one minute on high.
One packet contains 160 calories, using a half of a cup of water to prepare the oatmeal. Since I prefer to use skim milk in my oatmeal, this did add some calories overall, but it also brings me closer to the recommended daily allowance of calcium without adding extra fat. I also prefer the creamier consistency that skim milk gives the prepared oatmeal.
I ate the oatmeal before leaving for work that morning. Usually, I am famished within an hour or two of eating breakfast, no matter what I eat. I found, however, after several days using this product that the Quaker Weight Control oatmeal kept me feeling satisfied for at least three hours, sometimes longer.
Additional benefits of this product:
Along with the high fiber content, Quaker Weight Control Oatmeal contains seven grams of protein, which also helps one feel full and supports lean muscle mass, and two servings of whole grains. According to Quaker’s site, “Research shows that people who eat a diet rich in whole grains tend to weigh less.”
When I first purchased this product, I could only find Cinnamon, but now Quaker carries two additional varieties in the Weight Control line: Maple and Brown Sugar and Banana Nut Bread. I have tried the both the Cinnamon and the Maple and Brown Sugar. I like them both, but the Maple and Brown Sugar is my favorite thus far.
One word of caution:
Another of the perks Quaker advertises with the Weight Control line is “no added sugar”. Each variety contains only one gram of sugar in comparison with 13 grams in the standard instant oatmeal product line. However, I noticed that the Weight Control line tastes as sweet – or sweeter – than regular instant oatmeal. A quick perusal of the ingredients’ list reveals that the Weight Control line contains sucralose (more commonly known as Splenda). The addition of sucralose enables Quaker to create pre-sweetened instant oatmeal with very minimal sugar content. I personally do not mind using sucralose, however, keep in mind the inclusion of this ingredient before trying this product line if you have any sensitivities to artificial sweeteners.
Is Quaker Weight Control Oatmeal helpful for those seeking a low-calorie yet satisfying breakfast option, or is it simply more hype in the ever-growing collection of weight loss products?
Overall, I have found Quaker Weight Control Oatmeal to be delicious, easy-to-prepare, and satisfying. Even though it costs a bit more than other instant oatmeal, such as store brands (which I believe are the equivalent of name brands for less money), I have found the Weight Control line worth the extra cost. It has become a breakfast staple for me, especially on work days when I need to be able to go that extra hour or two before I can grab some lunch. The only word of caution I will offer is that it does contain the artificial sweetener, sucralose, which may pose a problem for some prospective purchasers.
