Power up your porridge ready for an outdoor swim

The temperature outside is still a bit chilly, which means now is the perfect time for some soul food - and by this we mean the kind of hearty, nourishing meals that fill you up and power you on for whatever the day has in store.  

And that includes breakfast time. We don’t know about you, but for us cereal and cold milk just doesn’t cut it in the colder months - and toast is…well, a bit boring. So today we’re sharing two ways to make a breakfast staple - porridge - a bit more appealing, and definitely a bit more powerful.   

Here goes… 

Spiced Apple, Raisin and Cinnamon Porridge 

Cooking time: 5 minutes 

Serves: Two 

Nutrition per serving: 

• Energy (kcal) 383 

• Protein (g) 8 

• Carbohydrate (g) 83 

• Of which sugars (g) 53 

• Fat (g) 5 

• Of which saturates (g) 2 

• Salt (g) 0.5 

• Fibre (g) 10 

Ingredients: 

• 60g rolled oats 

• 225ml milk or almond milk 

• 225ml water 

• 2 large apples, peeled, cored and diced 

• Handful of raisins 

• 1/2 tsp cinnamon 

• 1/4 tsp nutmeg 

• 1/4 tsp ginger 

• Pinch of salt 

• A little maple syrup, agave, coconut sugar or manuka honey 

Method: 

1. Put the oats, milk. water, apples, raisins, cinnamon, nutmeg and ginger in a small saucepan. 

2. Bring to the boil over a high heat and then turn the heat down to a simmer. Stir the porridge frequently over a low heat, for about five minutes, until thick and creamy. 

3. Add the salt halfway through cooking. 

4. Pour the porridge into warmed bowls and sprinkle with sugar or drizzle with a little honey or syrup. 

Porridge with Blueberries and Walnuts
 

Cooking time: 10 minutes 

Serves: Two 

Nutrition per serving: 

• Energy (kcal) 382 

• Protein (g) 12 

• Carbohydrate (g) 50 (sugars 19 g) 

• Fat (g) 15 

• Of which saturates (g) 2 

• Salt (g) 1.1 

• Fibre (g) 7 

Ingredients: 

• 100g porridge 

• 550 ml water or milk or ½ and ½ 

• Pinch of salt 

• 150g punnet of fresh blueberries 

• Handful of walnuts 

• Good quality runny honey to taste (Manuka is very good but very expensive, Greek runny honey is delicious) 

Method: 

1. Put the oats, water and/or milk into a pan with a pinch of salt. Bring to the boil over a high heat and then turn the heat down and simmer for about 5 minutes, stirring frequently. The porridge with become thick and creamy. 

2. Meanwhile, pop the nuts onto a baking tray and roast in the oven at 160°C for 5 minutes. 

3. Pour into two warmed bowls, sprinkle with the blueberries and nuts and drizzle over the honey. 

Enjoy!