Quick n easy way to cook oatmeal in the microwave

My actual bowl of oatmeal, packed with strawberries
(strawberries have lots of iron and fiber)

If you have been buying that "instant" microwave oatmeal, stop. It's high in sodium and additives, and on top of that, it's very expensive! The Quaker instant oatmeal is nearly $4 per box, and that has only 6-8 servings in it, but in reality it's 3-4 servings, because most people will eat 2 packets. The "Old Fashioned" oatmeal will provide you with probably 10 times the servings for the same money. I know, because I used to buy the "Instant" microwave oatmeal.

"Old Fashioned" oatmeal works just fine in the microwave. You might find there's a little more texture to it than the "Instant" kind, but guess what that texture is? It's called fiber, and you need it! You will get used to that extra texture and actually like it if you try this!

Here's a simple way to make it: 1 bowl: 1/2 cup old fashioned oats in a microwave safe bowl (one that's about size of medium mixing bowl, because the oatmeal will expand) and put in 1 cup of water and 1/4 tsp salt. Cook in microwave for 3 minutes on power 5 (or whatever half-power is on your microwave).

To do 2 bowl's worth, use 1 cup oats, 2 cups water. 1/4-1/2 tsp salt (eyeball it), cook for 4 minutes at power 5.

Let it sit, stir it up. I add 1-2 tsp brown sugar for the kids.

You can also replace all or part of the water with apple juice, and cook it in the juice. Try different combos. Sometimes I just adjust the thickness by adding a little apple juice after it's cooked. Then add some cinnamon and/or walnuts. For this combo, you don't need to add ANY sugar.

Strawberries are good in it, Blueberries are especially good in it, and even dried cranberries or raisins. You can cut up a whole peach and put it in there, and you won't be hungry for a long time.