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Published: January 19, 2021
As much as we might love a hearty omelet or our favorite chocolate protein shake, we usually don’t have time to whip up our dream high protein breakfast every morning. But common convenient options like frozen waffles or a bacon cheddar breakfast burrito don’t tend to offer the nutritional boost we need to kick off a productive day. That’s where instant high protein oatmeal comes in.
With its high fiber content and its quick prep time, instant oatmeal is hard to beat as far as microwavable breakfasts are concerned.
Whether you need something to fuel you for hours during your workday or give you a boost before your morning workout, choosing a meal that’s higher in protein can help you feel satiated more quickly and keep you fuller for longer (1). Protein also plays a vital role in muscle recovery, growth, and maintenance during and after exercise (2).
Here is a breakdown of the 9 best high protein oatmeal brands on the market, tips for making high protein oatmeal at home, and how to choose a healthy high protein oatmeal.
When choosing a healthy high protein oatmeal, here are some things to look for:
Packing the biggest protein punch on this list, this oatmeal contains 20g of protein — 40% of the recommended daily value. That is a pretty powerful oatmeal!
Coming in a close second, this high protein oatmeal offers 14g of protein — 28% of the recommended daily value.
This oatmeal, which gets its high protein content from collagen and nut butter, contains 11g of protein — 22% of the recommended daily value.
Featuring a variety of nuts, seeds, & dried fruit, this high protein oatmeal contains 10g of protein — 20% of the recommended daily value.
With almonds and chia as its protein source, this bright beet-red high protein oatmeal offers 10g of protein — 20% of the recommended daily value.
Red quinoa and chia seeds give this oatmeal its protein punch. It contains 10g of protein — 20% of the recommended daily value.
The yogurt powder in this high protein oatmeal brings it to a total of 10g of protein — 20% of the recommended daily value.
Made with flax seeds, this high protein oatmeal offers 10g of protein — 20% of the recommended daily value.
Made with only 6 ingredients, including almonds for a boost of protein, these overnight oats contain 10g of protein — 20% of the recommended daily value.
Making your own high protein oatmeal can be a more affordable alternative to buying pre-made products.
Plus, adding your own whole food high protein ingredients and other toppings, you can achieve your desired flavor profile and sweetness while limiting the number of processed additives and preservatives in your morning bowl.
10. Nuts & Nut Butters
Nuts and nut butters can be an excellent source of protein (8). Peanuts, for example, contain 7g of protein per ounce (9). Try combining with banana, strawberries, apples, and/or chocolate for a decadent flavor combo. You can browse a wide variety of the healthiest nut and seed butters here.
11. Yogurt
Yogurt is a great high protein addition to any oatmeal bowl. It adds creaminess, tartness, and can contain as much as 15g of protein per container (about 150g) (10).
12. Seeds
Not only do seeds add the crunchiness and nutty flavor every oatmeal needs, they also pack a big nutritional punch. A few types of seeds to add to your next batch of oats include chia seeds, flaxseeds, hemp seeds, pumpkin seeds, sesame seeds, and sunflower seeds. Hemp seeds offer 10 grams of protein in just one tablespoon!
13. Protein Powder
Did you ever think of throwing your protein powder into your oatmeal? Turns out, it’s a pretty common practice these days, and for good reason. You can often find protein powder with fun flavors like vanilla cupcake or dark chocolate, and they’re a convenient way to get that nutritional boost. Find the best protein powder with ingredients that suit your needs & dietary preferences here.
There’s a reason they say breakfast is the most important meal of the day. Now more than ever, we need that extra boost of energy to keep us productive and ready to take on the day. We hope we’ve given you the knowledge you need to pick out your perfect high protein oatmeal.
To recap, for a good source of protein, look for oatmeals that contain more than 10% of the daily value. Also, if you’re looking to reduce added sugars, opt for an oatmeal that contains less than 5% of the daily value, or 2.5g per serving.
If staying full after breakfast is especially important to you, or you’re just looking for added health benefits, choose an oatmeal that’s high in fiber, or more than 10% of the daily value.
Lastly, if the oatmeal products on this list didn’t make the cut, you always have the option of adding nuts, nut butter, yogurt, seeds, or protein powders to create your perfect bowl of high protein oatmeal.
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GreenChoice, PBC has evaluated and rated more than 340,000 food & beverage products across hundreds of attributes related to diet, health, and sustainability. Easily find the best products for you, the planet, & your budget. Download the free GreenChoice app for Apple iOS or Android!