Strawberry Banana Oat Pancakes

These simple oat pancakes packed with fresh strawberries and bananas are the perfect healthy and filling breakfast! They are favorites for us along with these Banana and Egg Pancakes and Flaxseed Pancakes.

Everyone loves pancakes but they're often not the healthiest breakfast choice. Made with white flour, sugar, and butter, not to mention all the toppings — maple-flavored sugar water "syrup," more butter, jellies and jams, whipped cream, Nutella, or chocolate chips, sometimes I feel like I might as well just feed my family doughnuts.

Even though none of these things is particularly healthy (especially in large quantities), there's no getting around our love of pancakes. As you know, I don't think it's really necessary to put any foods off-limits, but I do think it's necessary (and fun!) to recreate favorite foods to make them healthier (yet still delicious).

That was the concept behind these Strawberry Banana Oat Pancakes. When you are looking for a different morning pancake, or just a healthier version of the same old, same old, these babies (made with oatmeal instead of flour) will hit the spot. They are hearty and filling and the strawberries and bananas add tons of natural sweetness. They also freeze great so it's good to make up a big batch and save them for later. (That is, if you have any left to save!)

Side Dishes Ideas

Though these are a meal in themselves, sometimes you might a little something, something more with your breakfast. Sometimes you get to sleep in and your breakfast needs to become more like a brunch. I got cha. These go good with:

• A side of eggs, any which way you like them (or maybe an egg white scramble).
• A fruit cup.
• Some Greek yogurt.
• Low-sodium bacon, turkey sausage, or another lean breakfast meat.
• Bacon, Egg, Zucchini, and Cheese Muffins.

Recipe Ideas

If you don't like bananas, strawberries, or the combination of the two (I have a friend who once drank nothing but strawberry banana juice after getting her wisdom teeth out in high school and now she can't stand the flavors together), no problem.

• Try substituting unsweetened applesauce for the bananas (start with a cup and see how moist your batter is before adding more).
• Use honey or agave instead of maple syrup.
• Use any other berries that you enjoy or a mixture of berries instead of (or in addition to) strawberries.
• Use other flours such as almond if you don't like oatmeal.
• Or, if you don't want to grind your own whole oatmeal, you can purchase oat flour.
• Make these vegan by using an egg substitute for the eggs and egg whites called for the recipe.
• Swap almond milk for another nut milk that you have on hand or enjoy.
• Pour all the batter into a greased baking pan and bake one big pancake. Cut them out using cookie cutters for fun-shaped pancakes your kids will love.

What are the health benefits of eating strawberries?

Besides tasting awesome and being one of my favorite berries, strawberries contain a host of other great-for-you nutrients. The antioxidants they contain may help prevent cataracts and to neutralize free-radicals. The vitamin C in strawberries is also good for your eyes by protecting them from the sun's damaging UV rays, and it also strengthens the cornea and retina.

As if that wasn't enough, the vitamin C in strawberries also wards off cancer, keeps your immune system healthy, and helps it fight off infection. It also is great for your skin, helping your body produce collagen to keep your skin elastic and resilient.

Finally, strawberries contain something called flavonoids, or phytochemicals, that act as an antioxidant, protecting your heart and keeping it healthy, and fighting inflammation in your muscles, tissues, and joints.

What are the health benefits of eating bananas?

While green bananas have their own benefits, I'll be referring to the yellow ones I use in the recipe. (Green bananas in pancakes? Um, no.) To start with, yellow bananas are low in fat, their fiber content can keep you feeling fuller, longer, and the potassium they contain is good for your heart health and the moderation of your blood pressure.

They are also great at preventing cramps (the pre-menstrual kind or the running kind, or the wake-you-in-the-middle-of-the-night-kind) because of their B6 and potassium levels.

Eating bananas can help you replace potassium you lose while exercising — that's why you see them as snacks after just about every 5K. They are also a good source of antioxidants, are easy on your stomach, and can help to improve your sleep or put you in a good mood.