I’m always on the look out for easy breakfast recipes that pack in as many nutrients for my kids as possible and homemade oatmeal is, without a doubt, my go-to recipe most days. This Banana and Sweet Potato Oatmeal breakfast recipe is a new favorite of the kids’ because it uses a sweetened, canned sweet potato.
When Walmart asked me to test out the line of canned sweet potatoes they have by Sager Creek Veggies, I knew I wanted to sneak it into the kids’ diet somehow. Normally, I pick up the fresh variety, but I have to be honest – I don’t have as much time to prep and process these days. Lame excuse, but it’s true. Still, I’m a veggies sneaking mom, so I decided to give these sweetened, canned sweet potatoes a shot.
Using Sweet Potatoes to Sweeten a Recipe
Princella Sweet Potatoes is a great deal. That’s a fact. At least than a dollar for the smaller can, these sweet potatoes are picked and packed within hours. According to Sager Creek Vegetable Company, these sweet potatoes are also equally nutritious as fresh because the vitamins and minerals are locked into the can which saves time because there is no peeling or steaming.There are no preservatives because the canning process is the magic that preserves the yams.
These sweet potatoes do, however, come in a sweetened syrup. For this sweet potato oatmeal recipe, I drained most of the liquid, reserving just a bit to sweeten the oatmeal instead of using white or brown sugar. The kids absolutely LOVED it!
Sweet potatoes are an excellent source of vitamin A (in the form of beta-carotene). They are also a very good source of vitamin C, manganese, copper, pantothenic acid, and vitamin B6. Additionally, they are a good source of potassium, dietary fiber, niacin, vitamin B1, vitamin B2, and phosphorus. There are no preservatives because the canning process is the magic that preserves the yams.
Banana & Sweet Potato Oatmeal Recipe
The key to making great oatmeal at home is having quality ingredients on hand to keep it simple. Here is what I used for this Banana and Sweet Potato Oatmeal recipe. I didn’t note the quantities because, honestly, I didn’t measure it! Use your judgement according to your little one’s palate and you can’t go wrong.
– Old Fashioned Oats or a variety of grains*
– Princella Cut Sweet Potatoes in Light Syrup, mashed
– 1 whole banana, sliced
– Cinanamon, according to our taste
– Milk and/or water for cooking, about 1 cup
*For my kids’ breakfast, I typically use simple oats and add other ingredients, such as chia and flax seed (You can read more about my oatmeal process here.) This time however, I decided to try something new and went for Bob’s Red Mill Muesli Cereal, which has a yummy blend of oats, seeds and dried fruit. That’s what you see in the picture above and it’s SO good!
On your stove-top, add all the ingredients to a pan and cook on medium low. Stir often to make sure everything is well incorporated. Cook for about 5-8 minutes, until the liquid has been cooked down and the oats are softened.
Drizzle a bit of the liquid reserved from the sweet potatoes to sweeten the oatmeal instead of adding sugar. And don’t forget to save any leftovers! These sweet potatoes are perfect to add to mac-n-cheese. smoothies or other kids’ dishes without them even knowing the veggie is hidden inside!
