Tia Mowry-Hardrict and Quaker Oats think oats can transform meal time

Like many people, Tia Mowry-Hardrict grew up eating Quaker Oats. Now, that classic ingredient is transforming traditional family meals.

Do you have a box of Quaker Oats in the pantry? Tia Mowry-Hardrict, like most families, does and she uses oats in various recipes. While many people often associate oats with breakfast, this pantry staple can be the perfect ingredient to try something new.

For many parents today, that old phrase from childhood might ring in their ear. Eat some oatmeal. It will stick to your ribs. While that adage still rings true, there is more to the oats than just a bowl at breakfast.

Granted, everyone understands the importance for a good, flavorful breakfast. Beyond being fueled for the day, it can be a way for families to gather around the table and reconnect. In some ways, the food on the plate isn’t the only nourishment to start the day.

Recently, Tia Mowry-Hardrict partnered with Quaker Oats on a tasty recipe that goes a little outside the oat box. As a celebrity chef and television personality, the busy mom knows how important a good meal for the whole family.

As part of this partnership, Mowry-Hardrict took a few minutes to chat with FoodSided. From an easy recipe that everyone will love to using oats paired with new flavors, it seems that oats are definitely a pantry staple.

Like many moms, Mowry-Hardrict understands that breakfast is essential for her family. At the same time, kids never want food to be boring. While oats might be familiar, it can be a great way to try some new flavors.

She mentioned that her kids are fans of oats and sometimes she finds ways to add a few extra ingredients into the bowl. From fruits like blueberries to even a touch of almond butter, those oats can be transformed in simple, easy ways.

More importantly, that bowl of oats can spark a conversation on what flavors and ingredients people like. Studies have shown that traditional sweet flavors are being replaced with savory choices. Although kids might not want to put hot sauce on their bowl of oatmeal, they might be willing to try an exotic fruit. Again, traditional doesn’t have to be boring.

Still, pushing the flavor boundaries needs to be accessible to the whole family. Simple recipes can make any mom’s life better. That idea is one of the reasons behind her Banana Chocolate Oat Pancakes recipe.

This recipe takes the classic Quaker Oats and uses them in different ways. Beyond using oats as the basis for the pancakes, oats are used to make the oat milk in the batter. The simple idea really changes the flavor of the pancake.

Still, this recipe is rooted in tradition. Pancakes can always be a family favorite, but this recipe has a little twist. If Sunday pancakes are a tradition in your house, this recipe could be a fun way to break from the norm.

While Mowry-Hardrict makes big batches of these pancakes on the weekend, this recipe has multiple uses. That leisurely weekend breakfast is a great way to reconnect as a family, but those extra pancakes can be a quick weekday breakfast too.

In a way, that plate of food is a way to small way to say I love you before heading out the door for another hectic day. Again, simple recipes and efficient planning makes a mom’s hectic life less overwhelming.

Overall, one of the biggest points Mowry-Hardrict made is that oats are versatile. Beyond a sweet breakfast application, oats can be used in various recipes. From topping oatmeal with eggs to using oat milk as a milk substitute, oats are a pantry essential. Savory, sweet and everything in between goes with oats.

More importantly, oats can spark some creativity in the kitchen. Since it is a familiar ingredient, families can join together to create something new. As Mowry-Hardrict suggested, kids who are invested in the food that they cook are more willing to eat that dish. Isn’t every mom’s goal getting her kids to eat well?

Maybe the kids will want to see how overnight oats and dates might be just as tasty as the traditional oats and raisins. Or, the kids could want to see what happens if they add some pumpkin puree and see if those pancakes taste more like dessert. Cooking is fun and a little experimentation can spark even more food enjoyment.

If you are looking for a little culinary inspiration for the whole family, why not turn to the pantry staple that has been fueling families for years. Quaker Oats is more than just oatmeal and it is time to gather the family together and start a culinary adventure.

Tia Mowry-Hardrict discovered a new recipe for her family using Quaker Oats. What can you dream up? After all, cooking together can be that family moment that will last a lifetime.

What’s your favorite recipe using Quaker Oats? Will you make the Banana Chocolate Oat Pancakes for your family?