Simply Nature Organic Oats & Flax Instant Oatmeal

With cooler temperatures on our doorsteps, warm breakfasts can be popular in my house. One of my favorites is oatmeal. Homemade oatmeal cooked on the stovetop is my favorite, but on mornings when I don’t have as much time, I resort to those little instant oatmeal packets from the grocery store.

Aldi sells several different instant oatmeal flavors, including classics such as maple and brown sugar and mixed boxes that include peaches and cream and strawberries and cream. I’ve even spotted low-sugar instant oatmeal at Aldi.

I recently found another option among the instant oatmeal choices at Aldi: one that contains flaxseed. It’s sold under the Aldi Simply Nature brand, which is not a separate company but rather a private label Aldi uses for products that are organic or otherwise contain healthier ingredients.

Flaxseed has several benefits. First, flaxseed, according to WebMD, is high in omega-3 essential fatty acids, which can be healthy for the heart. Second, flaxseed contains phytochemicals called lignans, which have plant estrogen and antioxidant properties that could protect against some cancers that are sensitive to hormones. Third, flaxseed is high in fiber. It can potentially be a good part of an overall healthy diet for people who want to reduce cholesterol, prevent heart disease, or lower blood sugar.

Flaxseed can be incorporated into foods in various ways. It might be added to baked goods, smoothies, and granola, or it can be sprinkled on top of yogurt or peanut butter toast. Or, it can be included in oatmeal.

Simply Nature Organic Oats & Flax Instant Oatmeal cost $2.29 for an 11.28-oz. box at the time of publication. The box contains eight 1.41-oz. packets.

This is a Regular Buy, so you should be able to find it at Aldi any time of year.

This is kosher and certified organic by Quality Assurance International.

Ingredients are organic rolled oats, organic cane sugar, organic flaxseed, and sea salt.

Nutrition information, ingredients, and cooking directions. (Click to enlarge.)

One box has eight servings, and one pouch has 150 calories, 2.5 grams of total fat (3% DV), no saturated fat, 120 mg of sodium (5% DV), 30 grams of total carbohydrates (11% DV), 11 grams of total sugars, and 10 grams of added sugars (20% DV). It contains 28 grams of whole grains per serving along with 3 grams of dietary fiber (11% DV).

The box has directions for cooking this with hot water or for cooking it in the microwave.

To cook with hot water, empty a packet into a bowl. Add up to 1/2 to 2/3 cup of boiling water and stir. For best results, let stand 1-2 minutes. Then serve and enjoy.

To cook in the microwave, empty a packet into a microwave-safe bowl. Add up to 2/3 cup of water or milk and stir. Microwave uncovered on high for 45-60 seconds or until the oatmeal begins to thicken. Carefully remove the hot bowl from the microwave. Stir and serve.

Cooked and ready to serve. The dark flecks are the flaxseeds.

I cooked this oatmeal in my microwave for 60 seconds with 1/2 cup of milk. This cooked up thicker than other flavored oatmeal packets I get at Aldi, so I could have added a little more milk if I wanted to, but I thought the consistency was about right.

This oatmeal has a mild sweet flavor that isn’t overpowering. At 10 grams of sugar per serving, this isn’t exactly low in sugar, but it does have less sugar than some other flavored instant oatmeal I’ve had. If you like oatmeal that has a touch of sweetness but doesn’t taste like dessert for breakfast, this hits that note. One of my kids likes this oatmeal enough that they ask me to make it and pack in it their thermos for school lunches.

This also has small whole flaxseeds visible throughout. Nutrition experts recommend eating ground flaxseed rather than whole flaxseed to get the full benefits. That’s because whole flaxseed is harder to digest and may pass through your system without breaking down. Unfortunately, it looks like this Aldi oatmeal only has whole flaxseeds. That means this oatmeal may not be as beneficial as I hoped. I will still buy it because my family likes the taste, but I’ll probably get better health benefits by purchasing ground flaxseed and sprinkling it over my oatmeal or onto other foods.

The Verdict:

Simply Nature Organic Oats & Flax Instant Oatmeal contains flaxseed, which is high in healthy fat and fiber and can be a good addition to a balanced diet. This oatmeal contains some added sugars but has a mild sweet flavor. We like the taste. Unfortunately, it appears to contain only whole flaxseeds, when nutrition experts recommend eating ground flaxseed in order to gain the most nutritional benefits. It won’t hurt you to eat this oatmeal, but you might gain more benefits by purchasing ground flaxseed and sprinkling it on your oatmeal.