Getting Creative

• Sugar is regularly added to instant oatmeal packets, so make your oatmeal from scratch. Use steel-cut or rolled oats and customize your toppings to avoid excess sugar. Add nuts, fruit, spices or meat and dairy products to liven up your oatmeal. Oatmeal's bland flavor and smooth texture beg you to get creative with toppings. Consider using the ingredients that you have on hand, or go with your latest craving, such as raspberries or cheddar cheese.

Spicing It Up

• Baking spices are welcome additions to a steaming bowl of oatmeal. They add flavor, but also remind us of the sweet baked goods they are used in. Cinnamon adds a sweet, comforting lift. Ginger provides a warm, light zest. Cloves add a deep, subtle earthiness. Salt enhances the oat flavors. A sprinkling of vanilla bean powder will remind your taste buds of ice cream. You can also mix together any of the above spices for an oatmeal topping.

Going Nuts and Getting Fruity

• Nut oils have a natural sweetness, making them a delicious topping for oatmeal. They also mix well with baking spices or fresh and dried fruit, with which they are often paired in muffins and cookies. Cashews, almonds, walnuts and pistachios make excellent choices. Consider pairing cashews with coconut shavings, almonds with fresh bananas, walnuts with raisins or pistachios with dried cranberries. Mix and match your favorite combinations of spices, nuts and fruit for a delicious bowl of oatmeal.

Being a Ham

• Nuts, fruit and spices are traditional sugar substitutes for creating a great bowl of oatmeal, but you can also use savory toppings. Add an over-easy egg and slice of bacon. If you avoid meat, replace the bacon with thinly sliced avocado. Green onions and grated cheddar cheese make a zesty topping. Other savory additions include diced ham, low-fat yogurt and peanut butter. Pour any milk that suits your taste over the bowl as a finishing touch. Dairy milk is the traditional choice, but soy, almond and rice milk also add a layer of sweetness to your bowl.