I know we all enjoy a nice bowl of oatmeal with our favorite fixins from time to time (some of us much more often than others). Me? I like to surprise myself with fun and new toppings all of the time to keep things from getting boring. I usually find some combination of fresh/frozen fruit, nut butter, and a sweetener (maybe chocolate/caramel baking chips, agave nectar, or even sometimes brown sugar). The one thing that does stay constant however, is a ripe banana mixed into the oats. Yum!

Well, I’m not going to go into toppings today. The good folks at Coach’s Oats sent me some samples of their signature product, and I might share what I found. When they first contacted me about trying a sample, I was happy to accept the free taste, but did not really have any high expectations, because well… oats are oats, right? Over the past year or two, I have started trying different types of cuts of oats, experimenting, and discovering what I do/don’t like with each, but honestly, I have not seen much of a difference between the brands. The steel cut varieties tasted similar, and the same went for the rolled oats. I can say that Coach’s Oats really are original, and seem to combine the “best of both worlds” in the epic battle of steel cut vs. rolled.

OK, let’s back up and take a quick look at the different “types” of oats:
[Images courtesy of the Coach's Oats website.]

	Steel Cut Oats To make steel cut oats, whole grain oats (groats) are cut into smaller pieces with… yep, you guessed it, steel blades. They create a thicker, heartier oatmeal when cooked, but that cooking process takes about 30+ minutes on the stove (less if pre-soaked), and they are not intended for the microwave, nor are they intended for baking (I have not personally tried this to verify).
	Rolled Oats Rolled oats are also cut with steel blades, but are then “rolled” flat, which significantly reduces cooking time. Unfortunately, that faster cooking time comes at a cost. Rolled oats trade the thicker texture and nutty flavor that their steel cut cousins provide for a smoother, mush-like consistency. But hey, you can bake with them, and cook them in minutes in the microwave…
	Coach’s Oats Finally, we look at a different, innovative method of preparing the oats. Coach’s Oats are toasted in their whole grain form, and then cracked into smaller pieces. This method allows them to keep the flavor and texture of steel cut oats, but with shorter cooking times, like rolled oats. Coach’s Oats can be cooked in the microwave, and are good for baking.

Supposedly, steel cut oats and Coach’s Oats, have a lower glycemic index than instant oats. This is very important, because it means there will be a longer, more steady rise in insulin levels after eating them. Sure, you do pay a little more for these types, but to me it kind of seems like the difference in buying sandwich bread. I am willing to pay significantly more for the heavy, whole wheat / multigrain breads versus the cheap, store brand white bread. In both cases, I am eating more complex carbohydrates that should help keep my blood sugar more regular, and get to enjoy a more dense food that will also help to better control my hunger.

Don’t get me wrong, I do like rolled oats (and eat the instant kind sometimes because it is cheap and easy). I almost always keep a large container in the pantry for a quick breakfast, or to use in baking, but I may have found a new contender in the which-oats-will-go-in-my-bowl competition. The Coach’s Oats really did taste better. These were one of the first types of oatmeal that I could actually take a couple bites without anything mixed in. I did still add some fun toppings, but gave them a shot plain, and was pleasantly surprised that they had a sweeter, nuttier flavor than what I have been used to.

All in all, I was very impressed with both the taste, quality, and ease of preparation of Coach’s Oats. Basically, they seemed to have the taste and texture of steel cut oats, but cooked quickly (stove top or microwave), and are supposed to be good for baking. Unfortunately, they are not yet available to me locally, but I can still place an online order. If you would like to learn more about their products, please check out their website.

So, which kinds of oats do you like?