Healthy Chocolate Oatmeal

As a kid, I remember always looking forward to oatmeal Saturday or Sundays! I would get to mix in a big handful (or multiple handfuls) of chocolate chips until my oatmeal was probably more chocolate than oatmeal.  My body was more forgiving back then, however, and that is not a good meal to eat on the regular.  This is what I have been indulging in instead. Tasty, chocolatey, without the sugar crash! 

Chocolate Oatmeal

Ingredients:

1/2 cup dry oats
2 tablespoons cocoa powder
2 tablespoons ground flaxseed (optional, but a great source of omega 3s)
1.5 tablespoons Splenda or sweetener of choice, or to taste.
1 cup water or almond milk

Directions:

Mix dry ingredients together first before adding water or milk. Microwave in larger bowl (to prevent spilling over when it boils). Stir. Let cool for a minute. Enjoy!

Recipe is 220 calories with water, 250 with almond milk! 

Fruit-Sweetened Variation:

1/3 cup dry oats
1.5 tablespoons cocoa powder
2 tablespoons ground flaxseed
1 ripe banana pureed

Mix dry ingredients together then mix in banana. Microwave in large bowl for 2 minutes.

**Pro tip:

Can swirl in a spoon of peanut butter,  coconut, cherries or cranberries for an extra fun bowl!