Did you know you can make oat flour at home very simply?
A few weeks ago someone asked me that if there was one thing he could do to get instantly healthier, what would that be? I wanted to give this person a more specific answer than “if God made it, eat it, and if man ate it, don’t…” (although I love that answer, it is very general & depends on each individual’s needs!)
So this time I found myself saying: find ways to decrease your intake of any flour and sugar, and increase your green intake. I like to put people on a hunt for their own health, because when we find solutions for ourselves, we take ownership and are more likely to stick with those changes.
One of the best ways to stop using traditional flour, but still be able to create great snacks, bars, muffins, waffles, breakfast squares, etc, at home is to make oat flour.
Many years ago I stopped using flour, and instead switched to using oat flour almost exclusively – especially in food & snacks that I feed my kids. And we LOVE it.
Oat flour is (of course) a little heavier and denser texture because of it’s fiber content, and it’s also going to be a little higher in protein than regular flour – and that’s because it hasn’t been stripped of any of it’s nutrients. When first starting to use it, I would suggest using it in recipes where oat flour is specifically called for. Then you can start using experimenting with it!
First: put some whole oats into the food processor or high powered blender:
Second: process for about 20 seconds. The oats will look like this:
Third: process for another 20 seconds or so. They finally do their thing and become oat flour:
You can make as much at once as you wish! Just store oat flour in an airtight container. Always do your measuring after it’s been ground into flour, because it does reduce down just a bit.
Remember, when you use oats, you are getting an equal amount of soluble and insoluble fiber. Those are the two kinds of fiber your body needs – and both keep your intestinal track “clean” (for lack of a more professional word) – and not bloated! Soluble fiber significantly helps keep your cholesterol healthy.
We have several recipes we make with oat flour, but one I have been making as a snack for my kids is Chocolate & Peanut Butter Waffles– we cut them into triangles, freeze them, and then have a snack on hand whenever it’s needed.
Do you use oat flour? What do you like to create with it? Share with me!
