Get your week off to a healthy start when you make up a batch of these easy DIY Oatmeal Packets that are perfect for breakfast!
My boys love oatmeal, but the price of pre-packaged flavored oatmeal can really add up!
So… about a year ago, I started making Homemade Oatmeal Packets!
They’re quick and easy to make, and can really help cut the cost of a quick breakfast!
Related:
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Oatmeal Packets
How To Make Homemade Oatmeal Packets
Ingredients
- Oatmeal {use Quick Oats}
- Add-ins of your choice: Brown Sugar Raisins, Dried Fruits, Blueberry Craisins
- Powdered Milk {optional} ~ we add fresh milk when making ours so I leave the powdered milk out.
Instructions
- Measure out about 1/2 cup of oatmeal for each ziploc bag or other reusable container, then add in some fun flavors! {see list above for ideas}
- Now, my boys are *always* hungry, and used to gobble up 2 packets of oatmeal, so I make larger bags with 1 full cup of oatmeal…
- We cook the oatmeal by adding milk {to the consistency desired}, and microwaving for 45 – 60 seconds.
- When you’re ready to cook the oatmeal, another add-in that goes great with Brown Sugar is Homemade Maple Syrup! There you go… you’re all done!
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This Overnight Oatmeal Recipe will leave you refreshed and energized to start your day.
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Now get ready for some serious breakfast deliciousness with these easy breakfast ideas!
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Debbie says
This is a great idea! My favorite oatmeal has dried cherries. And for a little protein, I also add chopped pecans or slivered almonds. Chopped walnuts would be great with the bananas! Thanks for the time saving tip!
Heidi says
Great ideas, Debbie!
Jennifer Lawson says
That is such a good idea. I usually buy the organic maple flavored oatmeal at the store but I am going to make this. Thanks for the recipe!
Rikki says
Now that my kids ate the last of the instant oatmeal packs this morning I want to make these (helps that I have a bigger container of quick oats already). I plan on putting some powered milk in mine and dried fruit. My question is….how much water to do you put in it? My husband makes breakfast for the kids in the morning and he is a strict “direction follower” lol.
pamtx says
If you use 1/2 cup of quick oats, you’ll need to add a cup of water before cooking.
Cindy Wilson says
Trader Joe’s has all dried fruits at a great price. Hope you have one near you.
Melissa says
I pre-make my oat bran in a Tupperware container, premixed with cinnamon, sugar and powdered french vanilla coffee creamer. I keep a little scoop in there with it, so all I have to do is scoop it in a mug, add water and microwave for 1 minute…YUM!!
Cheryl Forshner says
I bought a dehydrator….MY NEW BEST FRIEND!! I dry apples,grapes,pineapple,blueberries…veggies to no end…No need to worry about anything going bad….. and as soon as you add things to liquid…they rehydrate. 🙂 Dried apples,pineapple & grapes…..make for awesome snacks as well. 🙂
Aileen Paz Perez says
This is wonderful! Why didn’t I think of this? My hubby makes himself oatmeal in the mornings before he goes for a bike ride and always asks me how much of everything to put in it. Now, he will have it all in a bag ready to make. Thanks!
Summer says
How much powdered milk do you use per packet?
Heidi says
Hi Summer ~ you could start off by trying 1 tbsp. of dry milk per packet. If you’re doing a larger packet, just add more. Then… it’s just a matter of preference ~ as to whether you’ll want more or less the next time. Hope that helps! 😉
~ Heidi
Fawn G says
how much of the add ins do you use per cup of oats? I’d like to make this for quicker mornings, but store it in a container instead.
kit says
I buy my dries fruits and nuts at costco or sams….much cheeper
Verlenia Hall says
My mom washes out her ziplock baggies and reuses them…i kmow…i washed enough of them out as a kid
Texasmom says
We make an “Oatmeal Shake” with Oats. We take the 1/2 cups of oats to 2 c. of milk, 1 TBSP of sugar, a pinch cinnamon, and 1 tsp ofvailla to taste. Simmer for about 7 to 9 mins with occasional stir and let it cool off. Then you can strain the oats out and drink the shake cold or leave them inside. Either way, it is nutrional for a quick drink in the morning if you prepare the night before. Lately I have been adding 1/2 scoop of Vanilla Protein Powder and it becomes a healthy Protein Meal Shake.
Kate says
I have been doing this for years! Since my daughter was a baby actually, I even pre-measured rice cereal, formula, etc instead of buying the more expensive pre-packaged convenience foods.
Rachel G. says
Great idea about the baby food. We used those formula dispenser bowls (they have 3-4 sections and you turn the lid to the one you want to dispense) for the baby cereals. Worked perfectly!
Centsible Girl says
I thought I saw some dried blueberries at WM but they have rearranged and now no one can find anything! UGH!!!!!!! You are not supposed to use warm tap water, it can have high levels of copper I think it is. I would just microwave the water and add it in to be safe!
Ang says
@ Centsible, dry your own! I’ve accidentally dried fruit before (left it in the back of the fridge in an open container lol). I’m sure you can find a recipe for it. Our Walmarts have dried blueberries in the dried fruit area too, I just can’t remember if it’s near the cereal & granola bars or in the canned fruit area.
YAY for this recipe! Will it work the same if we just do really hot (160*) tap water tho? I don’t microwave theirs… We’re coming up on oatmeal season finally in GA & we’re down to maple brown sugar packets & not much else in the oatmeal tubs.
Crystal Withrow says
Try a Hot Shot. They heat up to 2 cups of water to almost boiling in under a minute. We use it year round, ALL the time. I purchased mine from Target for under $15. Perfect for hot tea, cup o’noodles, and instant hot drinks!
Centsible Girl says
I have thought of that, she has some blueberry all fruit…I don’t know if she will “buy” it that way…
Lou says
Instead of adding brown sugar, cook with apple juice, that makes it sweet enough, especially if you’ve added raisins. You can still use the powdered milk.
Jocelyn says
We add a tablespoon of homemade jam to add flavor to our oatmeal! Its a great way to make the strawberry/raspberry or which ever flavor your little ones like!
Laurie says
I LOVE this idea! Thank you so much! About how much brown sugar do you use per 1/2 cup oatmeal?
Laurie says
I LOVE this idea! Thank you so much!
Centsible Girl says
Any idea on blueberry? Not sure if I can get dried blueberries here. My kids like the flavors I am not sure I can replicate. Banana, peach, strawberry. Intend to try this for sure once I figure it all out!
Kate says
We pick fresh blueberries every year. You can freeze them and then put them into smaller containers in the freezer. We put one container in the fridge and just grab a few to toss into the oatmeal… We’ve tossed in frozen ones, they are actually quite good also. To freeze ours we put them on a cookie sheet in a single layer to freeze them after they are frozen we put them into baggies or small containers.
We’ve done the same with bananas, never tried peaches or anything though. Peel then slice the bananas, place on cookie sheets to freeze and after frozen put into small containers or baggies…
Cindy Wilson says
Do you have a “Trader Joe’s”. I purchase all my dried fruits at their store for a great price. Hope this helps.
Randomly Fascinated says
Aldis had dried blueberries/ mixed berries if you have one near you. I think Walmart might too.
Rachel G. says
You could just add frozen blueberries and store the whole baggie in the freezer til the day you plan to use it. It shouldn’t hurt the dry ingredients to be in the freezer 🙂
Cheryl says
I get my dried blueberries @ Sam’c Club. Cheapest I’ve found.
Becca says
Its cheaper to dry your own fruit and then add it in to whatever. You can find simple recipes on yahoo or use a dehydrator.
Jen L. says
I just read that you can recycle Ziploc containers and bags at certain schools.
0811wife says
Thanks Sara!! I’ll be trying those this weekend too! Another one my daughter can help with!
Sara says
http://www.food.com/recipe/homemade-toaster-strudel-438416
This is a DIY strudel recipe!
Vicki says
Be still my heart. Thank you!
0811wife says
@kat> We actually reuse our ziplock bags if they only held dry ingredients. But to make things easier for me I would store them in those ziplock bowls that way I could just add milk and heat! I LOVE this idea and am going to involve my 5yr in helping make some!
On another note, anybody have a DIY for toaster strudel? My daughter loves them and they are far to expensive!
Kami says
I make my own pop tarts (mine taste more like toaster strudel). Make pie crust or use pastry dough. Make small circles or squares and spoon in your favorite filling put a circle on top seal and bake @350 for 20 min. Frost while still hot cool a little then enjoy. Or freeze and you can put them into the toaster for breakfast.
kat says
Cool idea, but how about changing out those plastic bags for something that can be reused instead of tossed into the trash after each use?
Cari says
I’m with you kat…I do this for myself for work and just put it in microwave safe bowls.
Emily M says
I reuse bags like this, because they aren’t dirty. So, I would just keep the plastic bags and fill them up when it’s time again! 🙂
Heidi (not to be cofused with the author ;) ) says
I make these and put them in ziploc bags too. I then have 2 empty Oats containers that I use as storage, one for the full bags and 1 for the empty bags. When a child empties a bag it goes into the empty container to get refilled again on Sunday evening. I have some bags that have been used for a year or more. I put the oatmeal in the bag so they have to dump it in a non-plastic bowl. I don’t like to use even the microwave “safe” plastics in the microwave.