hot cereal

In my search for healthier, lower fat/cholesterol, non-animal based and still tasty food, I continue to come across new items which have proven quite good. For those of you who also want to eat healthier, I’m sharing some great finds.

Vegenaise – giving up mayonnaise is pretty difficult. It makes something as simple as a fresh tomato sandwich sing. I was very happy to find that Vegenaise from Follow Your Heart was, as the label states, “better than mayonnaise.” I say this as someone who had been consuming the number one brand all my life, although for years, I had been buying the “light” version. Well, Vegenaise actually does taste better than “Number One”, in my opinion, and without the suffering of egg-laying chickens and without the animal-based fat, (a major source of cholesterol.) This product is vegan, gluten-free, dairy-free, and non-GMO. Coming from a smaller manufacturer, it is pricier than standard mayo for the cost-conscious. Follow Your Heart also has a line of salad dressings and cheeses that are not animal-derived.

Better than Bouillon is an organic vegan base to use in soups and stews, which is offered in a variety of flavors. It was called for in a recent recipe I made, and worked perfectly. I just whisked the base up with the stated amount of water and voila! Delicious. It’s manufacturer, Superior Touch, also makes a variety of other soup and gravy bases, many organic, both vegan and vegetarian options.

Bob’s Red Mill makes a host of grain products, all non-GMO, and many organic. I’ve purchased flour and rolled oats from them before, but recently tried their granola – very good – and their Organic High Fiber Cereal. This is a vegan hot cereal made with a blend of stone ground oatmeal, nutrient rich flaxseed, wheat germ, high fiber oat bran, and wheat bran. There are plenty of vitamins, minerals, fiber and 1000 mg. of Omega-3! Check out the Bob’s Red Mill website for all products, including gluten-free.

And last but not least … a snack …. from Food Should Taste Good. I agree! My local supermarket is now carrying a variety of these non-GMO, mostly vegan, some organic, snacks – crackers, kettle-cooked chips, and tortilla chips. I bought the lime tortilla chips, and they are truly tasty and not too heavy on the lime. FSTG has a great line of products in a nice variety of flavors.

So there you have it – some delicious, wholesome, non-animal derived foods to try out. Enjoy!

* Post updated: 8/7/2026

Are you an oatmeal fan? I actually love almost any good hot cereal, but McCann’s Irish Oatmeal is my favorite. It’s warm, nourishing, and while delicious with the simplest of accompaniments – a touch of brown sugar and a small dab of butter – there are so many ways you can dress it up to make it even more delicious. Plus, McCann’s is non-GMO, an extra bonus.

Here are a few ideas to change your oatmeal from ho-hum to yum. Try crumbling a gingersnap or two and toss that with some chopped pecans into the bowl. Or, add them to the pot when the oatmeal is just shy of boiling for chewier results. That’s also the best time to toss in raisins or cranberries.

Fresh fruit is, of course, always an option. For another delicious take, consider chopped apples and walnuts, raisins, and cinnamon. You can also sweeten the pot by changing the cooking liquid, and use 75% apple juice to 25% water. When I make oatmeal, I do alter the liquid, but I use 50% organic soy milk and 50% water. It makes for a creamier dish, and also adds more protein.

Oatmeal is such an inviting food, and good quality oatmeal doesn’t lose its flavor with additions stirred in. Plus, it’s heart healthy! Something else to consider – oatmeal will stick to your ribs longer the more whole the grain. Eating instant oatmeal will leave you hungry soon after because the oats are chopped extremely fine to speed up cooking, but are also digested much more quickly. I use McCann’s Quick-Cooking, steel cut oatmeal for more heft, but the regular steel cut, while taking longer to cook, will stave off hunger the longest.

Start your day with a steaming hot bowl of oatmeal, and stir in plenty of your creativity!

* Post Updated: 8/7/2026