Friday night rolls in and am writing about an oatmeal bowl that, well, tastes like dessert. It’s fully vegan, gluten-free & refined-sugar free. But all you need to read or know is: it tastes like dessert. Just remember that key piece. 

I never met a bowl of sweet warm, cinnamon apples I didn’t like. Ever. Adding honeycrisp apple chunks sautéed in coconut oil & seasoned with cinnamon to my morning oatmeal was the next best thing. Its sort of a “lazy apple crumble”. Sort of. Oh that and the impossibly delicious honey roasted pecans for that mandatory crunch factor. I roast these in large batches and throw them into my salads, my baked good and as of this week- my oatmeal bowls. Am all for healthy fats in every meal, nuts being a primary source. This bowl would also be equally delicious with raw walnuts or honey roasted almonds; entirely up to you.

I have started making my own honey roasted pecans because I realized the sneaky store-bought (honey roasted) ones have some sort of refined, added sugar. As many of you know, white sugar and moi aren’t friends. Nope, we’re not on talking terms. After many years of living with a debilitating autoimmune disease, quitting white, refined sugar has helped to effectively keep my inflammation in check. And am not looking back. Ever. So am hoping you give this super easy breakfast a try, because it tastes like dessert & is actually quite nourishing.

Oats are naturally gluten-free but may sometimes come into contact with wheat; something known as cross-contamination. I buy GF old-fashioned rolled oats, and I absolutely love their texture for this breakfast bowl . You could also try super healthy steel-cut oats. They’re a bit chewier and harder but an awesome source of fibre.

And cinnamon… well, I put that on everything! It helps regulate your blood sugar and maintain it at regular levels throughout the day. I sprinkle it on my coffee, on my bananas, on my apples, on toast; pretty much anywhere it could possibly go.