Don’t the cooler temps and falling leaves just make you want to curl up with a cozy bowl of warm cinnamon oats? Same. Except there’s only one problem here – oats.

Grains

There is absolutely nothing inherently wrong with oats. They are delicious, warming, comforting, and easy. I eat oats for breakfast every once in a while, especially when I am traveling, and I love every minute of it. But am I eating oats for breakfast every day? Personally, no.

There are a number of different reasons you may not want to eat oats (or any grains, for that matter) for breakfast, and I’ll mention a few of them here.

Nutrient Density

I think you all know that I am a big fan of squeezing as many micronutrients as possible into our days. Grains (including oats) do generally have some nutrients, but plant and animal foods trump almost every other category of foods when it comes to volume of nutrients you can get per serving. Vegetables will almost always deliver more nutrients than grains, so I opt for veggies over grains when possible. Check out this article for more information on nutrient density.

Leaky Gut

Hippocrates got it right when he said, “all disease begins in the gut.” Research is showing now more clearly than ever that ailments from acne to autoimmune disease are rooted in the health status of our stomach and intestines. If you struggle with digestive or hormonal issues, have a diagnosed autoimmune disease or allergies, have taken antibiotics repeatedly, or have symptoms like joint pain, fatigue, energy crashes, insomnia, etc., you may have leaky gut. Grains unfortunately contribute to leaky gut by increasing intestinal permeability, which means that they may cause your symptoms to worsen if you have any of these issues.

Blood Sugar Balance

Grains like oats are very carbohydrate-rich foods. Carbohydrates are NOT bad (I actually had a bad experience when I accidentally went too low-carb), but eating a large amount of carbohydrates in one sitting can cause blood sugar problems for many people. If you struggle with energy crashes, irritability, shakiness, or mood fluctuations, you may be struggling with blood sugar imbalances. If so, a breakfast packed with lots of carbs may not be the best option for you.

N’Oatmeal

Enter my favorite alternative to oatmeal: n’oatmeal. I wanted to create a dish that felt the same as oats – warming, mushy, delicious, fall-y – but was vegetable-based rather than grain-based. It took me a few tries, but I have to say I totally nailed it.

I have been eating this fall n’oatmeal for breakfast every day for the past few weeks and I am far from sick of it. It is a great dish to meal prep at the beginning of the week and heat up every morning for a quick breakfast. It is also ridiculously cost-effective given that a medium spaghetti squash costs less than $2 at my farmer’s market.

If you’re looking for a grain-free version of your favorite fall breakfast, look no further. Try out this recipe and let me know what you think!