Oatmeal comparison

[Wynton]

I've gotten into the habit of having basic oatmeal in the morning, occasionally adding a small number of raisins or dried cranberries or blueberries. This morning, I tried Trader Joe's Steal Cut Oatmeal (which is pricey, but really tasty). Initially, I thought the two were nutritionally identical, but then I noticed a difference in sugar. The ordinary oatmeal lists none, while Trader Joe's lists 7g.

My question is whether the difference is trivial (and whether it's made up for by my addition of a handful of raisins).

<u>Usual oatmeal</u>
calories: 140
calories from fat: 25
total fat: 2.5 g
saturated fat: .5g
trans fat: 0g
polyunsaturated fat: 1g
monounsaturated fat: 1g
total carbs: 26g
dietary fiber: 4g
soluble fiber: 2g
insoluble fiber: 2g
sugar: 0g
protein: 5g

<u>Trade Joe's Steel Cut Oatmeal</u>
calories: 150
calories from fat: 20
total fat: 2.5g
saturated fat: 0g
Trans fat: 0g
Total carbs: 27g
dietary fiber: 4g
sugars: 7g
protein: 5g

[shemp]

I'd look for a list of ingredients. If the ingredient list says more than "oats" in either of them, find another option. I'm not a member of the TJ cult, but oats don't have sugar, and I've never heard of sugar being added to SCOs.

I buy them from a bulk bin at a healthfood store for around a buck a pound. They are "organic" but that is the only drawback.

[Wynton]

This variation of the Trader Joe oatmeal contains brown sugar and maple syrup, which I should have mentioned before.

But is the amount of sugar listed above de minimis, or enough to warrant staying away from it?

I suppose this question is more of a general question about how to interpret nutritional numbers, than about the particular oatmeal.

[cbloom]

Yeah they look basically identical except that TJ's has a little bit of added sugar. Not a big deal. Put some butter on it and eat a big piece of ham on the side.

[shemp]

[ QUOTE ]
This variation of the Trader Joe oatmeal contains brown sugar and maple syrup, which I should have mentioned before.

But is the amount of sugar listed above de minimis, or enough to warrant staying away from it?

I suppose this question is more of a general question about how to interpret nutritional numbers, than about the particular oatmeal.

[/ QUOTE ]

Personally, I want oats in my oats, and I'll add my own extras.