Do you like breakfast? You do?! Me too! One of my favorite breakfast foods is oatmeal and while the instant kind usually is made with hot water, I like to add milk to mine. I find it to be a bit heartier and plus, it gives me a dose of the calcium I need to build strong bones. But with so many brands out there for both oatmeal and milk, which one do I get and is there a difference in taste? I had to find out with a #CompareandSwap taste test, of course!
As I prepared for my shopping trip at my local Smart & Final, I browsed through the sales ad on my iPhone. There were so many great items on sale that I definitely knew I would be picking up more than oatmeal and milk.
In addition to my other groceries, I purchased First Street and Quaker Instant Oatmeal as well as First Street and Alta Dena Milk. I was determined to find out which was a better quality which ultimately to me means that it tastes better.
I didn’t want to taste alone, so I invited my husband to try these out with me. To ensure he didn’t know the brands of each one and could remain totally unbiased, I had him wait in the dining room as I prepared each bowl of oatmeal…
…and glass of milk (in noticeably different containers of course to keep track).
Time for the test.
After several large bites of each oatmeal and even bigger gulps of two different milks, we had a verdict.
By a landslide, we chose the First Street Instant Oatmeal and Milk. First, the price of the oatmeal was much better – $1.89 as opposed to $4.39. Plus, the oats used in the First Street brand seemed to be more wholesome. The First Street Milk was also more affordable by a dollar and surprisingly to us, tasted a bit sweeter which we liked.
Since we only tested the plain instant oatmeal, I made sure to amp it up a bit with some bananas foster. Brown sugar, butter and spiced rum paired with ripe bananas from Smart & Final turned this plain oatmeal into a real morning treat. You can find the recipe for Bananas Foster Oatmeal at the end of this post.
This #CompareandSwap taste test was fun indeed. We discovered new brands that we enjoyed and got to eat some really good food. If you’d like more information about Smart & Final, follow them on Twitter @smartfinal and “Like” them on Facebook.
Ingredients
- 2 packets First Street Instant Oatmeal
- 2 tbsp unsalted butter
- 1/2 cup golden brown sugar, packed
- 1/4 cup spiced rum
- 2-3 bananas, 1/2" slices
Instructions
- Prepare the oatmeal according to the package directions. Set aside.
- To make the bananas foster, heat the butter in a pan on medium-high heat. Add the brown sugar and rum; continue to stir until the sugar is melted and the mixture is bubbling. Mix in the banana slices and cook until the bananas are heated through.
- Spoon the bananas foster over the oatmeal along with some of the syrup and serve.
This shop has been compensated as part of a social shopper insights study for Collective Bias. All opinions are my own. #CBias
Okay, this recipe looks delicious. I’ve actually never had Bananas Foster, thanks for sharing! Also, the price difference is incredible! Glad First Street won that comparison, I’ll have to pick some up next time I go to Smart and Final.
It was definitely the more affordable choice! You’ll have to try the Bananas Foster recipe. I know you’ll like it. And if you’re not feeling like oatmeal, pair it with some ice cream…yum!