Proper porridge on the go....

Parsimonia

This may have been posted as a tip before, but if so I couldn't find it...

I arrive at work at 6am, which for me is too early to eat breakfast before I leave home, so I'm always looking for ideas for nutritious, cheap, low-calorie, easy, portable things that I can have for breakfast at my desk. I have access to a water boiler and a fridge, but no microwave so I've always thought that porridge was impossible, unless I buy those instant porridge pots that you just add hot water to and leave for 2 minutes (like the porridge version of a pot noodle). But I"ve always been reluctant to pay over £1 a pot!

I found out, though, that if you use a food flask, it's possible to make a bowl of regular porridge (I'm using Scotts old fashioned porridge oats) just by using hot water from the kettle.

I put 40g of oats and a teaspoon of sugar in my food flask (I use an Aladdin Bento lunch box, but I assume any form of food flask would work), add 275mls of boiling water, give it a quick stir, and put the lid on tightly. Ten minutes later, you have perfect porridge!

Before I tried this, I was eating 50g of dry Weetabix Crunchy Bran every day for breakfast - I used to get 7.5 servings from each 375g box, at a cost of 32p per serving.

Now that I've switched to porridge, it costs me less than 4.8p per day (especially as I use sugar sachets that are freely available at no cost in all the beverage bays at work).

So, I save myself over 25p per day, and have lovely, hot, warming porridge for breakfast for next to nothing, and it's as easy as anything!

The Aladdin lunchbox cost me a tenner, but I use it every day so it was a good investment. But, as I said, I'm sure any food flask would work just as well...

joedenise

If you want it a bit creamier you can stir a vanilla yoghurt through it just before eating.

Denise

Marmaduke123

Don't like the sound of yoghurt in porridge! A bit of cream now, that would be altogether different.

charlies-aunt

Try adding a few sultanas too - they come out plump and yummy

Fruball

I prefer my porridge with maple syrup. Love the idea of taking it in a food flask! I am definitely going to do this - thanks

madvixen

charlies-aunt wrote: »

Try adding a few sultanas too - they come out plump and yummy

mmmmmm I'd completely forgotten about that. Mum always used to add raisins to our porridge. It was yummy. I may have to start doing it again.

LOUBOB

For those who don't have a flask.......

I replicate the instant porridge, I either use a plastic pot with a lid or a ziploc type bag and transfer to a bowl at work.

Approx 4 tablespoons of of porridge oats
Teaspoon - tablespoon of skimmed milk powder
Sugar to taste

Place in Tupperware pot, put on the lid and shake to mix, get to work add hot water, stir, leave to stand, stir....... Instant lovely porridge add any extras eg sultanas, nuts or honey or plain.

You can easily multiple this and keep in a air tight container and just decant portions as required.

I prefer taking in a Tupperware pot as I leave the lid on once I've added the water just be careful your pot can withstand heat!! Using the ziploc bag is ok if you have a bowl, teaspoons and bowls are like gold dust at my work!

Depending on how what oats you buy this works out really cheap and is great portion control!

Parsimonia

I'm not sure if I made it clear in my original post, but I don't make the porridge at home in a saucepan and then take it to work hot in the flask...I make it at work from scratch, by adding hot water and sugar to the oats, then put the lid on the flask and putting it aside for 10 minutes until the oats have softened and absorbed the water.

To be honest, Aladdin flasks don't hold the heat all that well (within 30 minutes the porridge would be merely lukewarm not hot), but as a way of making healthy, cheap porridge without access to a stove, a saucepan or a microwave, it couldn't be easier!

The good thing about Aladdin flasks, though, is that they're 100% plastic, so you can pop them and their contents in a microwave and reheat if you have access to a micro....