Porridge with milk or water? This question cannot be answered unequivocally – there is no factually correct answer as to whether milk or water is healthier for preparing porridge. Both liquids have their advantages and disadvantages. And both liquids are used by people every day to make porridge. There is no right or wrong anyway.
Everyone has their own way of making oatmeal, and their own philosophy. But which is healthier, porridge with milk or porridge with water?
Discover the Verival world of porridge here
Is porridge with milk healthy?
A porridge recipe with milk is a classic breakfast option. When you mix oats with milk and cook them, you get a very creamy porridge. But is porridge with milk healthy?
The basic rule is: as long as you consume milk in moderation and the porridge with milk is part of your healthy and balanced diet, there is no reason for concern. Milk is a great source of protein, calcium and many other important vitamins and minerals such as vitamin D and potassium. So preparing it with milk can help make your porridge more filling and nutritious.
If you like to eat porridge with milk, you should also consider the negative aspects. Porridge with milk, for example, contains many more calories than porridge with water. For people with lactose intolerance, milk is of course taboo. But that doesn't necessarily have to prevent you from trying porridge with milk alternatives! Oat milk, soy milk, almond milk or rice milk – all these foods have perfect alternatives that can really add the finishing touch to your porridge. Especially at breakfast time, it's good not to rely on just one flavor, but to try out several things.
You should be careful when consuming porridge with milk. If you consume too much milk, you can easily get bloating, your skin could deteriorate and the absorption of iron can be inhibited.
Is porridge with water healthy?
Porridge with water is a healthier alternative than milk. If not the healthiest alternative for preparing porridge. However, it is also clear that water together with porridge can also taste a bit bland.
The advantages are clear: water is probably the healthiest liquid you can consume. What's more, you avoid calories and fat when you prepare porridge with water. This can be particularly helpful for people who would like to lose weight with oats. Since milk and milk alternatives are often high in fat and calories, you should use them sparingly if you want to lose weight.
Make porridge with water more exciting
But how can you make porridge with water more interesting so that you don't get in a bad mood first thing in the morning? We can help you with that:
First of all, it is important that you always season your porridge properly. Whether it's salt, a little sugar, agave syrup, or even cinnamon or aniseed, spices turn your porridge into a real taste sensation. The second step to enjoying a delicious and healthy breakfast porridge is to add toppings. Fruits and seeds are our favorites. Fresh berries and delicious chia seeds can turn a boring breakfast into the perfect start to the day.
Preparing healthy porridge – no matter what liquid you use
Preparing porridge, whether with milk or water, is extremely easy. First of all, you need oats. 3-4 tablespoons of oats is a good rule of thumb. Now you need the liquid of your choice. Whether milk, water or milk alternatives, you should make sure you use something you like or that helps you with your progress. 180 milliliters should be enough.
First, you need to bring the liquid to a boil in a saucepan. When the liquid is boiling, add the oats. Turn the heat down to low. The oats should now simmer in the liquid for five minutes, stirring constantly. Then remove the pan from the heat and leave the oats to infuse until they have reached the desired consistency. Finally, add a pinch of salt to enhance the flavor of the porridge.
Overnight oats as an alternative to cooked porridge
If you are someone who tends to feel stressed in the morning and would rather not cook, there is a great alternative to “normal” porridge. Overnight oats are the magic word here. Simply mix oats with water, milk or a milk alternative before going to bed and enjoy them in the morning!
Now it's time to choose the right toppings. Do you like it fruity or savory? Sweet or salty? No matter how you like your oatmeal, we're sure to have the right porridge recipes for you:
Basic recipe: porridge
Here's a simple recipe for the popular porridge that's become a staple at most breakfast tables.
Preparation time: 2 min.
Let the porridge steep for 3 min.
Total time: 5 min.
Calories: 320 kcal
Ingredients
- 250 ml milk or a plant-based alternative for vegans (oat milk, almond milk, soy milk, etc.)
- 50 g oats (grams of oats)
- 1 pinch of salt
- 2 teaspoons agave syrup (optional)
- 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon (optional)
Preparation
- Bring the oats, a pinch of salt, and your favorite sweetener to a boil in the milk or plant-based drink (stirring constantly is best). Cooking the oats with just hot water is also an option.
- Let the porridge steep for 3 minutes.
- Empty the porridge into a bowl and sprinkle with cinnamon.
- Enjoy!
Nutritional information
Calories: 320 kcal
Conclusion: Is porridge with milk or water healthier?
So, what is healthier, porridge with milk or with water? The question would be easy to answer because water seems to be the better alternative. But it's not quite like that, because both have advantages and disadvantages.
It is true that water is probably the healthier alternative to milk. It is also likely that water is not a flavor explosion. But by consuming water, you save a lot of calories and fat, which can certainly help you lose excess pounds.
However, milk is not necessarily unhealthy as long as you consume it in moderation. Milk is an incredibly good source of protein, calcium and other important vitamins and minerals. Milk makes porridge more fatty and high in calories – but if you need a lot of protein, for example, porridge with milk can help!
Porridge with milk alternatives such as oat milk or almond milk can largely eliminate the unhealthy effects of milk. These milk alternatives are often ideal for people with lactose intolerance.
To sum up, porridge with water is probably the healthiest way to prepare oats, objectively speaking. But milk also has its advantages. Especially when it comes to vitamins, proteins and minerals, milk is clearly the winner. However, milk alternatives should not be ignored either; they can offer a lot in terms of flavor.
How you like your porridge is mainly a matter of personal preference. Do you prefer milk and the creamy side of porridge? Then there's no harm in eating your porridge with milk, as long as you enjoy it in moderation. Do you want to lose weight and prefer to cut calories? Then water is definitely the best alternative for you.
