There’s always a new diet trend to try, but most of them focus on extreme changes. You might only ever eat fats, avoid eating after noon or limit your calorie intake until you’re tired all the time. Many people don’t realize that you can lose weight and maintain a balanced diet, especially if you stick with healthy carbs.

Oatmeal is an excellent example of a healthy, whole-grain carb that won’t hurt your diet. Check out some of the best eight oatmeal ideas for weight loss that you can try today. Add something new to your diet and enjoy every meal on your way to your health goals.

1. Simmered Cinnamon Oats

The next time you wake up and want a quick, easy breakfast, make simmered cinnamon oats. Boil your regular serving of oatmeal and add at least a half teaspoon of cinnamon. It helps decrease your blood sugar so your body doesn’t make extra insulin and put on weight.

2. Apple Pie Overnight Oats

Stop your dessert cravings in their tracks with apple pie overnight oats. Use your favorite natural sweetener and place chopped apple cubes and oats in your fridge overnight. You’ll have an instant breakfast the next morning and boost your metabolism naturally from the fiber in the apple.

3. Molasses and Banana Oatmeal

Maple syrup is a common oatmeal ingredient, but it’s not weight-loss friendly. Instead, replace it with all-natural molasses and add a handful of banana slices. Bananas are rich in protein and potassium, which naturally reduces water weight and bloating to help your weight loss.

4. Protein Oatmeal Raisin Cookies

Who says you can’t have a treat while you’re on a diet? If you make protein oatmeal raisin cookies without flour or sugar, the weight will fall right off. Treat yourself to a snack and the protein will keep your metabolism going long after you finish the cookies.

5. Dark Chocolate Strawberry Overnight Oats

Chocolate lovers will adore dark chocolate strawberry oatmeal, especially since you can make it the night before. You may think the chocolate would ruin your weight loss, but dark chocolate specifically acts as a prebiotic and helps your gut digest food properly. There won’t be any extra fat to store once you rev your gut biome with this oatmeal.

6. Almond Butter Oatmeal

Almond butter is an all-natural alternative to peanut butter that can help you lose weight. After you prepare your standard half-cup of oatmeal, add a tablespoon of almond butter to throw in healthy fats. The University of California found that almonds limit how your body absorbs fat, so everything else passes through undigested.

7. Baked Blueberry Oatmeal Cups

Another way to make your oatmeal ahead of time is to create baked blueberry oatmeal cups and store them in your fridge during the week. You can grab them on your way out of the door every morning and the blueberries will target stubborn belly fat with every bite. Just make sure to swap the brown sugar with a healthy replacement that uses a natural sweetener and molasses.

8. No-Bake Peanut Butter Oat Bars

Another way to eat a healthy oatmeal snack on the go is to bake peanut butter oat bars during your next free afternoon. All you’ll need is oatmeal, honey and peanut butter to make this protein-packed recipe. It’s the perfect way to hold off your hunger until it’s time to eat again, so you don’t worry about craving more food between meals.

9. Cinnamon Oatmeal Pancakes

You might have given up pancakes in your quest to lose weight, but whip up cinnamon oatmeal pancakes and you’ll discover one of the best oatmeal ideas for weight loss. As long as you use oat flour and sugar-free maple syrup, these pancakes will be gentle on your blood sugar and keep you from gaining weight back. 

10. Simple Oatmeal Muffins

There’s nothing like the satisfaction of eating a fresh muffin, but they always contain carbs and sugar. After you restock on oats, try simple oatmeal muffins and add whatever extras you like. When you avoid sugar and flour, it makes room for dark chocolate chunks or chopped strawberries so you can always bake a new flavor.

Make Something New

Your health goals don’t have to limit what you can enjoy. Even when you don’t have time to make oatmeal, you can rely on instant oatmeal as a quick substitute and can dress it up. Try some of these oatmeal ideas for weight loss to jumpstart your metabolism, eat something new and expand your diet. You may find a recipe you’ll continue making after you reach your goal weight because they’re just so delicious.