Baked Blueberry Protein Oatmeal

Sweet Blueberries, Hearty Oats and Protein rich Greek Yogurt and Eggs are baked into a warm casserole in this Baked Blueberry Protein Oatmeal. With no added sugar or sweetener this is a recipe that helps me feed a crowd and manage my Gestational Diabetes.

Please note, the information presented on this blog is not a substitute for professional medical advice. Ensure you seek the care of a doctor, dietician or other medical professional to help manage your Gestational Diabetes and create a menu that is specific to your needs.

Gestational Diabetes Mellitus friendly Baked Blueberry Protein Oatmeal

I have been a busy gal lately growing another human! My body is working so very hard to do what it needs to do and support another being. And I have been working hard to take care of myself and manage my Gestational Diabetes, or GDM.

To give you a little background, Diabetes that starts during pregnancy is called Gestational Diabetes Mellitus (GDM). Certain hormone levels increase in pregnancy to support the growth of the baby. These hormones, made by the placenta, can cause the body to use insulin less efficiently. This is referred to as insulin resistance. Insulin is the hormone produced in the pancreas to help move glucose (sugar) into your cells for the body to use as energy. As a result, an expectant mother with insulin resistance will have blood sugar levels that are too high. This can negatively effect both mom and baby. Typically, the problem corrects itself after the birth of a baby.

I have regularly been consulting with Endocrinology and Dietetics teams at my hospital to find the right diet for me and my GDM. It is an evolving situation with this pregnancy. My older wiser self appears to have unique needs as the weeks progress in this pregnancy. Nonetheless, I create a menu at home that is satisfying whilst keeping my blood glucose levels in-check. Whilst is such a fun word! Don’t you think?

My parents came into town to visit this past weekend and I knew we had a full schedule of kids’ sports and activities and events. I wanted to provide everyone with an easy and delicious breakfast or brunch that I could still eat due to my special dietary needs. This Baked Blueberry Protein Oatmeal fit the bill.

Protein Packed, Zero Sweetener, Many Health Benefits

This oatmeal is packed with protein at 18 g per serving! With 45 g carbohydrates per serving (and this casserole serves generous portions), this falls into the right range of carbohydrates for me to consume at lunch, making this a great brunch option. With zero sweetener, I can enjoy this baked oatmeal.

My family was served this oatmeal and poured syrup atop and didn’t even seem to notice the absence of sugar in the oatmeal. I call that a win!

Some benefits of Blueberries and Oats:

Blueberries are High in Fiber – 1 cup provides 14% of daily recommended value of fiber, this helps maintain bowel health, helps lower cholesterol, helps control blood sugar levels.

Blueberries contain Antioxidant Vitamin C – with 24% of RDA of Vitamin C, blueberries protect the body against cell damage.

Oats contain Avenanthramides – Whole oats are the only food source of avenanthramides, a special group of antioxidants believed to protect against heart disease.

Oats have Beta Glucans – Beta glucans are known to lower cholesterol levels. Beta glucans may also reduce blood sugar and insulin levels after a carb-heavy meal! This can be helpful with GDM! (Source – https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/22530714/)

No Fuss Prep

This recipe is quite simple to prep. Simply measure and pour all your ingredients into a bowl excluding the eggs. In a separate bowl, whisk the eggs. Incorporate the eggs into the mixture of ingredients.

Pour into a greased casserole dish (I greased with butter) and bake for 45 minutes at 350 degrees F.

Allow the oatmeal to cool for 5 minutes before cutting. I have written the recipe to serve 6 generous portions, but you could easily get 8-10 portions out of this Baked Blueberry Oatmeal Recipe. Serve with maple syrup or omit if you are also reducing sugar. Enjoy!

Enjoy! And if you like the recipe, please share on Pinterest, or snap a photo of your creation and tag me on Twitter, or Instagram!