Years ago oats where used mainly to feed livestock or as food for those who lived beneath the common standard. But, after years of research, oats have been found to be one of natures most healthy gifts. Oats are full of vitamins, fiber and antioxidants. Oats come in a variety of forms and flavors now, and are used in may recipes to add nutrition, fillers and flavor.

Rolled oats are oats that are steamed, pressed and then dried. Instant oats are pre-cooked and then dried, quick cooking oats are oats that have been cut smaller and thinner, steamed, pressed and then dried. Oat flour comes from ground oats and does not contain any gluten like wheat flour does. Wheat is good for you, but research shows that after a certain age your body quits processing the gluten.

Oats are used as fillers in meat dishes, served as cereal, used in baking cookies, muffins and breads, and still used in many cases for feeding chickens, goats, sheep, pigs and cattle.

Healthy Meat Loaf with Oats

Ingredients:

• 1 pound lean ground beef or turkey
• 1 cup rolled oats
• 1 egg
• 1 small onion chopped
• 1 small stalk celery diced
• ¼ cup minced garlic
• 2 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce or 2 tablespoons onion soup mix
• 1 – 2 good sized fresh mushrooms diced
• 1 small can of tomato sauce or brown gravy (look for low sodium or organic)

Directions

• Thaw meat and put in bowl
• Add oats, egg, celery, onion, garlic Worcestershire sauce, mushrooms and 2 tablespoons of tomato sauce or gravy.
• Knead all ingredients until thoroughly mixed and shape into a ball
• Place in a greased or non stick loaf or square pan
• Bake at 350 until done, draining any grease from the pan on several occasions
• A few minutes before removing from oven spread gravy or tomato sauce over the the top, let warm for about 10 minutes or until steaming

You can bake carrots, onions and potatoes in the pan with the meatloaf or prepare your sides separately