Difference Between Cream Of Wheat And Oatmeal

It will cook quickly, so keep an eye on it, usually about 2-4 minutes.

Is Cream of Wheat Healthier Than Oatmeal?

Cream of Wheat and oatmeal are both popular and satisfying breakfast options. Cream of Wheat and oatmeal are both healthy breakfast options, but Cream of Wheat is an excellent source of iron and B vitamins.

Cream of Wheat and oatmeal are both popular and satisfying breakfast options. But which is better suited to your health goals? In general, both types of hot cereals are healthy breakfast options that contain plenty of B vitamins and iron. However, oatmeal may be the better choice if you’re worried about your daily sodium intake or if you have gluten sensitivity.

Cream of What is a brand of hot breakfast cereal created in North Dakota in 1893. It’s made of Farina, a milled cereal grain derived from wheat.

Uncooked Cream of Wheat is a finely powdered cereal. To prepare it, mix the powder with milk or water and boil it, allowing it to simmer and thicken on low heat for a minute or two. Once cooked, it has a smooth, thick, and creamy texture. To enhance its flavor, you can top it with berries, spices, toasted nuts, maple syrup, and other toppings.

Cream of Wheat is widely available in grocery stores all over the U.S. It comes in many different flavors, including:

Maple brown sugar
Banana walnut
Cocoa nut with almonds
Cinna-apple walnut
Mixed berry with almonds
Bananas and cream
Whole grain
Original

What is oatmeal?

Regular oatmeal (also called old-fashioned oats) is pure grain whole oats. It’s a popular hot cereal and breakfast option that’s easy to find in grocery stores everywhere.

Many different types of oats are available, depending on how they are steamed, flattened, and sliced. Other varieties include quick oats, instant oats, and steel-cut oats.

Quick and instant oats are made by rolling the oat flakes even thinner and steaming them longer than the old-fashioned variety. Steel-cut oats are cut with a steel blade and have a more hearty and chewy consistency.

Nutritional value of Cream of Wheat vs. oatmeal

Cream of Wheat is low in calories and contains many nutrients essential for a healthy diet.

One cup (251 grams) of cooked Cream of Wheat (made with water) contains:

Calories: 126
Protein: 3.61 grams
Fat: 0.53 grams
Carbs: 26.4 grams
Fiber: 1.26 grams
Iron: 9.39 milligrams
Niacin: 1.3 milligrams
Vitamin B6: 0.03 milligrams
Thiamine: 0.14 milligrams
Riboflavin: 0.06 milligrams
Folate: 30.1 micrograms
Selenium: 7.03 micrograms
Calcium: 218 milligrams
Copper: 0.1 milligrams

Cream of Wheat is high in B vitamins , which are essential for good health. They transport oxygen and energy around your body, support brain function, and assist with DNA synthesis, or the formation of DNA strands.

For vegetarians looking for a good source of iron, Cream of Wheat is an excellent choice. It is enriched with iron, and one serving contains more than half the daily value for a 2,000-calorie diet .

Iron is essential for your health because it carries oxygen from your lungs to other body parts. It’s also crucial for healthy brain development and growth in children.

If you don’t get enough iron in your diet, you could develop iron-deficiency anemia. This condition is extremely common and causes symptoms like severe fatigue and lightheadedness.

Other plant-based foods also contain iron, like nuts, seeds, legumes, and leafy greens. Otherwise, meat, poultry, and seafood are good sources of iron.

Comparatively, one cup (234 grams) of cooked regular oats (made with water) contains:

Calories: 166
Protein: 5.94 grams
Fat: 3.56 grams
Carbs: 28.1 grams
Fiber: 3.98 grams
Iron: 2.11 milligrams
Niacin: 0.53 milligrams
Vitamin B6: 0.01 milligrams
Thiamine: 0.18 milligrams
Riboflavin: 0.04 milligrams
Folate: 14 micrograms
Selenium: 12.6 micrograms
Calcium: 21.1 milligrams
Copper: 0.17 milligrams

Like Cream of Wheat, oatmeal is a low-calorie food, but is higher in protein. If you want to lose weight, oatmeal might be the better option since high-protein foods help you feel fuller for longer.

Oatmeal also contains folate and niacin (both are B vitamins) but doesn’t offer nearly as much as the same-size serving of Cream of Wheat.

Other benefits of Cream of Wheat

As you can see, Cream of Wheat is a highly nutritious breakfast option, but it also offers several other benefits:

It’s affordable. A regular box of Cream of Wheat contains about 24 servings and costs less than $5.00 at most grocery stores. That’s about $0.21 per serving, which is hard to beat.
It’s easy to prepare. You don’t have to be a master chef to whip up this convenient breakfast option. All you need is a pot, some water or milk, and a microwave or stovetop.
It’s delicious and satisfying. Cream of Wheat is satiating to keep you full longer. You can also easily enhance its flavor with plenty of sweet or savory toppings.

Downsides of Cream of Wheat

Depending on the type of toppings you use, Cream of Wheat may not be as healthy as you’d hoped. For instance, if you top it with loads of sugar, salt, or butter, it will quickly lose many of its dietary benefits.

Since Cream of Wheat is made with wheat, it also contains gluten, a group of proteins that acts as a binder to hold the dough of bread and other wheat-based food items together.

If you have celiac disease or gluten intolerance, you might get some unpleasant gastrointestinal symptoms after eating it, such as:

In this case, Cream of Wheat is likely not the best breakfast choice for you. Oatmeal is a good alternative.

The Instant Cream of Wheat variety is also somewhat high in sodium, which could be a concern for some people. Adding toppings like cheese or nuts will only increase its overall sodium content.

According to the American Heart Association, most adults should eat less than 1,500 milligrams of sodium daily. Monitoring your salt intake is especially important if you have high blood pressure.

SLIDESHOW

Healthy ways to prepare Cream of Wheat and oatmeal

Sprinkle toasted wheat germ or bran over your hot breakfast cereal for a nutty flavor and even more B vitamins.
Instead of whole-fat milk, use nonfat or 2% milk. You can also opt for plant-based milk, like almond or soy milk.
Skip the brown sugar and use natural sweeteners like honey or maple syrup.
Top your hot breakfast cereal with berries or seasonal fresh fruit.
Add a dollop of your favorite nut butter to increase the healthy fat content of your cereal.
Enhance the flavor of your Cream of Wheat or oatmeal with spices like cinnamon or nutmeg.

Which is healthier: Cream of Wheat or oatmeal?

Cream of Wheat and oatmeal are both healthy breakfast options, but Cream of Wheat is an excellent source of iron and B vitamins. It’s also affordable, easy to prepare, and can be customized to suit your taste with various toppings.

Depending on how you prepare it, Cream of Wheat may not be ideal for those with high blood pressure , gluten sensitivities, or who are careful about their sodium intake. In these cases, oatmeal is a better option.

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References

American Heart Association: “Shaking the Salt Habit to Lower High Blood Pressure.”

F1000Research: “Recent advances in understanding non-celiac gluten sensitivity.”

Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health: “The Nutrition Source: Gluten: A Benefit or Harm to the Body?,” “The Nutrition Source: Iron.”

Journal of Research in Medical Sciences: “Review on iron and its importance for human health.”

Minnesota Public Radio: “Cream of Wheat plant closes; leaves history behind.”

Nutrients: “B Vitamins and the Brain: Mechanisms, Dose and Efficacy—A Review.”

U.S. Department of Agriculture: “FoodData Central: Cereals, CREAM OF WHEAT, regular (10 minute), cooked with water, without salt,” “FoodData Central: Cereals, oats, regular and quick, unenriched, cooked with water (includes boiling and microwaving), without salt.”

Whole Grains Council: “Types of Oats.”

World Journal of Gastrointestinal Pathophysiology: “Celiac disease: From pathophysiology to treatment.”

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Difference Between Cream Of Wheat And Oatmeal

Wondering what the difference between cream of wheat and oatmeal is? I was served both of these almost every single morning growing up in my parent’s home, so I have a few thoughts on each. I will also include my favorite method for making Cream of Wheat cereal too.

What makes the cream of wheat and oatmeal different?

While these 2 breakfast cereals have quite a bit in common, they are also very different! They are both considered plant-based foods and are delicious in their way. Let’s dive right into this.

The main difference is oatmeal is made from oats, while Cream of Wheat is made from wheat. Those are strong differences for sure.

What is Cream of Wheat?

Cream of Wheat is a porridge that is just a brand name. It is just a type of farina. It is milled wheat made by cracking the grain and removing most of the wheat bran. This is one of the reasons is a lighter color.

Cream of wheat is similar to grits (how about this delicious Instant Pot grits recipe), grits are made with corn, and Cream of Wheat is made with wheat. Some people do find their texture pretty close. I think Cream of wheat has a smoother texture.

What is oatmeal?

There is nothing like a bowl of oatmeal to start your day. Oats are whole grains that are gluten-free and perfect for those with celiac disease. They come from oat groats, which are the whole oat kernel. With so many good breakfast options, let me share these 2 with you.

Oatmeal is made from oat groats and comes in different varieties. Listed below are a few varieties:

Regular oatmeal (old-fashioned oats)- They are also called rolled oats and are made with a process of steaming the oat groats and rolling them through a roller.
Quick oats (instant oats) – They are made similarly to old-fashioned oats but rolled even thinner and steamed more. This allows them to cook much quicker than regular oats.
Steel-cut oats– these oats are also known as Irish oats and pinhead oats. They come from chopped whole oat groats. I love these as they have a chewier texture. Steel-cut oatmeal takes longer to cook and is more expensive, but they are worth the extra cost and time!
Whole oat groats– These make a great hot breakfast cereal, you can check my recipe for Instant Pot oat groats if you want to try them. They are a better option if you want the whole oat groats intact.

Cream of Rice

I also want to add a few notes about Cream of Rice. While we are discussing types of hot cereals, let me throw this one out there too. It is a different cereal completely than Cream of Wheat.

It is made of finely ground white rice and has a smooth texture that most people love.

It is a better choice for individuals with gluten intolerances and allergies as it is made with rice instead of wheat as the Cream of Wheat is.

How to cook Cream of Wheat cereal

Cream of Wheat is so simple to cook, but it does require you to stir constantly. Here is my basic preparation method, but in the recipe box below, I will share my mom’s recipe she used when I was growing up. Note that there are different cooking methods, but this is my go-to.

I use a ratio of 4:1 for my liquid to farina. 4 cups of liquid (hot milk or water. I like to use almond milk) to 1 cup of Cream of Wheat. Now, here is where my recipe differs from others. I also add a few tablespoons of 7-grain cereal to my recipe. This is the way my mom made it and the way I love it even today.

Bring the water to a boil over medium heat. Slowly pour in the Cream of Wheat into the hot water while stirring constantly. Lower the heat to low and continue stirring.

It will cook quickly, so keep an eye on it, usually about 2-4 minutes.

Remove it from heat and serve immediately.

I love to top it with a little butter and maple syrup. But if you want to dress it up a bit, top it with fresh fruit, seeds, nuts, etc. If you aren’t opposed to it, you can also sweeten it with a little bit of sugar (either granulated or brown). I have also heard of people who like to sweeten with sucanat.

There is a whole wide world of porridge out there and I can tell you I am here for all of them! Cream of Wheat and oatmeal are just 2 of those delicious breakfast cereals. If you want another whole-grain option, what about spelt porridge?? Spelt is an ancient grain that most people don’t consider when they think of breakfast options.

Cream Of Wheat Vs Oatmeal

Difference Between Cream Of Wheat And Oatmeal