Caroline points out that oatmeal is like a blank canvas and can be used as a foundation for a lot of healthful concoctions. Oatmeal cookies, crisps and bars were about as far as I went with this grain. Although, I do recall that I once ground it up and added it to a turkey loaf recipe. But never have I thought to turn it into a savory treat by adding salsa, chiles and Cotija cheese, or tzatsiki, feta cheese, kalamata olives and chopped cucumber. What great ideas!

Thanks to Caroline, I've now tried adding orange pieces, chopped walnuts, a splash of orange juice and a spoonful of sour cream.

My favorite new addition to my morning bowl of oatmeal? A few dabs of peanut butter. I love peanut butter and have been known to put it on some pretty odd foods but I never thought to add to my oatmeal. It tastes yummy and it’s great for you.

Oatmeal is low in calories, high in fiber and protein, and it's a rich source of magnesium, potassium, zinc, copper, manganese, selenium, thiamine and pantothenic acid.

Oats have been proven to lower bad cholesterol, which leads to a decrease in the risk of heart disease.

People who regularly include oats in their diets have lower spikes in their blood sugar levels. (The soluble fiber in whole oats helps moderate the absorption of glucose.)

Like many of the SuperFoods, whole oats are also loaded with the phytonutrients that are so important to include in our regular, healthy, SuperFoodsRx diet.

There are so many ways to enjoy this grain. Try some of these ideas or get creative and come up with your own new oatmeal invention.