In fact, in the USDA nutrient database, instant oatmeal possesses the same nutritional profile as regular or quick-cooking oatmeal.

CNN: Is instant oatmeal just as healthy as traditional?

Here is a fun instant oatmeal recipe from Good Eats, a free book produced by the University of New Hampshire Health Services.

CNN: Is instant oatmeal just as healthy as traditional?

Because instant oatmeal has been processed to cook more quickly, it is also broken down and digested more quickly by your body, giving it a higher glycemic index.

CNN: Is instant oatmeal just as healthy as traditional?

According to Cynthia Harriman, director of food and nutrition strategies for the Whole Grains Council, instant oatmeal, which is often portrayed as nutritionally inferior, is also a whole grain.

CNN: Is instant oatmeal just as healthy as traditional?

Recently, Dougherty, who calls herself a "stress eater, " decided she needed to get rid of the bars and chocolates and fill her drawers with healthier fare like sugar-free instant oatmeal.

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To lower the glycemic index of instant oatmeal, all you have to do is combine it with a little lean protein (add low-fat or fat-free milk or a half-scoop of protein powder after cooking) or healthy fat (top with a tablespoon or two of chopped nuts, which are also good for lowering cholesterol).

CNN: Is instant oatmeal just as healthy as traditional?

For now, you can heat up the complimentary instant oatmeal in the microwave or drive to the nearby Big Sur Bakery or Nepenthe for meals, but come June, Glen Oaks will have its own dining room, overseen by a chef who worked at the Bakery and Esalen, and plans to let his New Orleans roots show in his cooking.

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