Cereal Isn’t Just for Breakfast
I tried a new product the other day that just might earn a spot in a jar on my counter among my nuts, oats, and dried fruits. That is a difficult honor to earn, because I only have a certain amount of counter space and it is reserved for those items that I want to grab a handful of quickly and conveniently.
It is called “Uncle Sam - Toasted Whole-Wheat Flakes & Flaxseed”. I found it in Walmart with the dry cereals. I was impressed by it’s very short ingredient list and reasonable price. It was created in 1908 by a man (who apparently resembled our nations Uncle Sam character) who was trying to follow his doctor’s advice to include flax seed in his diet. And boy, did he find a tasty way to do it.
I’m sure I will eat it like a cereal normally is - with cold milk and a chopped banana or sliced strawberries or maybe sliced almonds and a drizzle of honey. But today it replaced the handful of oats I sprinkle on top of a small bowl of yogurt and it was really good. Slightly sweet, nutty, crunchy, tiny little flakes, and flax seeds - Mmmmm.
I’m sure I will investigate its usefulness in things like dessert crusts and I will have to test it as a substitute for the oats in a baked apple crisp. I can almost taste a squirt of cold whipped light cream on top of those crunchy little flakes and warm spiced apples. Again I say - Mmmmm.
Just remember with flax seed you have to chew them well (or buy them crushed) to get the full benefit because those healthy omega-3 fatty acids are inside each seed. And be aware of the calories if you add flax seeds to a lot of things. They are 35 calories a Tablespoon, so think of them in the same category as you do nuts - very healthy, but just use a Tablespoon. Here are a few good reasons to add flax seeds to your diet. You’ll be glad you did.
