Quaker Weight Control Oatmeal Product Review: Helpful or Hype?

During the last season of NBC's The Biggest Loser, the fitness trainers were touting Quaker Weight Control Oatmeal as a great breakfast choice for anyone on a weight loss plan. Quaker's site (www.quakeroatmeal.com) describes their Weight Control Oatmeal as "an instant oatmeal that is designed to help you meet your weight loss goals". I love oatmeal, and I am always searching for easy, satisfying, low-calorie breakfast options, so my interested was piqued.

My personal experience with Quaker Weight Control Oatmeal:

I purchased the Cinnamon variety first. I immediately noticed that the oatmeal has six grams of fiber per serving. I knew from my weight loss efforts in the past that a high fiber breakfast (five grams or more) will keep one feeling full longer, so this was a check in the plus column for me even before I tasted the product.

When I first prepared the Cinnamon variety, I added one cup of skim milk to the packet, mixed it together in a microwave-safe bowl, and heated it for one minute on high.

One packet contains 160 calories, using a half of a cup of water to prepare the oatmeal. Since I prefer to use skim milk in my oatmeal, this did add some calories overall, but it also brings me closer to the recommended daily allowance of calcium without adding extra fat. I also prefer the creamier consistency that skim milk gives the prepared oatmeal.

I ate the oatmeal before leaving for work that morning. Usually, I am famished within an hour or two of eating breakfast, no matter what I eat. I found, however, after several days using this product that the Quaker Weight Control oatmeal kept me feeling satisfied for at least three hours, sometimes longer.

Additional benefits of this product:

Along with the high fiber content, Quaker Weight Control Oatmeal contains seven grams of protein, which also helps one feel full and supports lean muscle mass, and two servings of whole grains. According to Quaker's site, "Research shows that people who eat a diet rich in whole grains tend to weigh less."