5 DESI alternatives to oatmeal for weight loss

Well, if we have to put up a list, it will be a long one. A warm bowl of oatmeal topped with fresh fruits and nuts includes everything a perfect weight loss breakfast should have. It contains fiber to keep you fuller, protein for muscle building, Beta-glucan to increase satiety and a variety of other nutrients to speed up your metabolism and help your organs to function well. On top of that, oatmeals are easy to put together and absolutely delicious.

But what if you can get the same benefits of eating oatmeal by having some desi foods. For those who are not a fan of oatmeal or get bored having the same meal every day, here are 5 alternatives to oatmeal that you can have in the morning. These breakfast options contain the same amount of nutrients, have the same weight loss benefits and the best part is that they are as easy to prepare as a bowl of oatmeal.

Broken wheat or bulgar wheat, also known as dailya is a popular food item in India and Middle Eastern countries. The high fiber cereal grain is packed with the benefits of folate, vitamin B6, niacin, copper, manganese, magnesium and iron. It is nutritious, easy to make and rich in fiber to keep you fuller till your next meal. Daliya, either sweet or savoury, are also low in calories, so you do not have to worry about your daily calorie intake.

Ragi belongs to the millet family that is known to be an extremely nutritious variety of cereal grains. 100 grams of ragi or finger millet offer more than 300 mg of calcium. The variety of millet is also rich in potassium, iron, protein and other essential nutrients. You can either prepare ragi porridge in milk or can use only water to cut down the calories intake. The breakfast option is also excellent for those diagnosed with anaemia and Type 2 diabetes.

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Rajgira or Amaranth is another ancient millet that has gained wide popularity in recent times. The porridge is easy to put together and you can make it taste better by adding some nuts and fruits. The food grain is rich in fiber, protein, magnesium, phosphorus, protein and iron. It is excellent for those trying to build muscles and shed kilos. The protein and fiber content makes it a perfect breakfast option.

Have you ever tried fox nut porridge or kheer? If not, it is time to experiment with this recipe. Fox nuts or makhanas contain all the essential nutrients like fiber, potassium, iron, calcium, protein and magnesium, necessary for weight loss. The best thing is that it is low in calories. 50 grams of dry-roasted makhanas has just 180 calories and no saturated fat. So, one bowl of makhana kheer in the morning can help to control your cravings and keep you fuller between your meals.

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If you are looking for some savoury breakfast option then make jowar and vegetable khichdi. Sorghum or jowar is packed with vitamin B, protein, fiber, magnesium, and antioxidants -flavonoids, phenolic acids, and tannins. The B vitamins help to boost metabolism and protein and keep you fuller till later. 96 grams of sorghum provides approximately 20 per cent of the recommended daily fiber intake and 10 grams of protein.