Recipe: Instant Oatmeal Packets

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Homemade oatmeal packets are so easy, and they are amazingly frugal, too! Here is everything you need to know.

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The ready made oatmeal packets are so pricey, but they are so nice because kids can choose what flavor they want, prepare them on their own in many cases, they are the perfect serving size, and they are ready in a snap. But, they are SOOOOO expensive, especially when feeding a group of my size.

If you love the convenience of oatmeal packets but hate the price tag, then you are in the right place.

So, I found this idea over on Money Saving Mom, and then I adapted it to the following:

I make a “fruit and cream” variety using dehydrated fruit like this: Brothers-ALL-Natural Variety Pack Crisps (Fuji Apple, Asian Pear, Strawberry/Banana), 24-Single Serve Bags, and these are the best price I have found.

This is how I put the oatmeal packets together:

For the fruit variety I include:

• 1/2 cup quick oats
• 2 tablespoons powdered sugar
• 2 teaspoons of the fruit

For the cinnamon and sugar variety I include:

• 1/2 cup  quick oats
• 2 tablespoons brown sugar
• 1/8 teaspoon cinnamon

To each of these packets you will need to:

• 1 cup of water
• microwave for 90 seconds

This makes a large bowl, my two youngest kids (3 and 5) share a packet.

I have a huge oatmeal marathon about once a month making all the packets and just put them in separate ziplock bags with the directions of water to add and cooking time written right on the big bag. We reuse the small ziplock bags, too, making them even more frugal! The marathon really doesn’t take that long, maybe 30 minutes or so, and I have close to 80 packets when I am done.

Breakfast doesn’t have to be expensive, and it doesn’t have to be hard either. Once you have all the packets made, it’s a flash with these packets!