Oatmeal: The Heart-Healthy Hug I Didn’t Know I Needed

Two weeks post-heart attack, and here I am—still kicking… mostly because I’m not cleared to run.

These days, “self-care” looks a little different. Less chaos, more naps. Less iced lattes on-the-go, more heart-healthy slow mornings (with coffee… obviously). And in my newfound oat era, I’ve discovered something beautiful: oatmeal actually slaps—especially when you dress it up like it’s heading to brunch.

Turns out, it’s also good for your heart, packed with soluble fiber that helps lower cholesterol and keep things movin’ (if you know, you know). Plus, it gives big “main character energy” when you top it just right.

So here it is—my go-to cozy breakfast bowl, now officially Jonesy-approved.

Jonesy’s Heart-Happy Oatmeal Bowl

Serves: 1 fabulously chaotic but health-conscious queen

Ingredients:

• 1 cup water

• ½ cup Bob’s Red Mill Organic Rolled Oats

• Pinch of salt

• Splash of Nielsen-Massey Pure Vanilla Extract

• Dash of McCormick Ground Cinnamon

• A splash of Califia Farms Barista Blend Oat Milk

Toppings:

• Sliced banana

• A spoonful of Jif Creamy Peanut Butter

• Drizzle of Nature Nate’s Raw & Unfiltered Honey

• Extra sprinkle of cinnamon

• Berry compote made from frozen mixed berries (I used what I had in the freezer—grab yours wherever you shop!)

Instructions:

1. Bring water and a pinch of salt to a boil.

2. Stir in the oats, reduce heat, and simmer for about 10 minutes.

3. Once thickened, stir in vanilla, cinnamon, and oat milk until it’s your perfect consistency (I like it creamy but still hearty).

4. Pour into your prettiest bowl. Yes, the one you save for special occasions. Life is short—use the pretty plates.

5. Add your toppings, give it a dramatic drizzle, and eat it like you’re the coziest version of yourself.

Shop the Ingredients

Want to recreate this cozy little heart-hug of a breakfast? Here are the staples I used—pretty plates optional (but highly encouraged):

• Bob’s Red Mill Organic Rolled Oats

• Nielsen-Massey Pure Vanilla Extract

• Califia Farms Barista Blend Oat Milk

• Jif Creamy Peanut Butter

• Nature Nate’s Raw & Unfiltered Honey

• McCormick Ground Cinnamon

• Frozen mixed berries from Costco, Target, or wherever you grab your grocery staples—anything you love will work.

Affiliate Disclosure:

As an Amazon Associate, I may earn a small commission if you make a purchase through these links—at no extra cost to you. Thanks for supporting Jonesy In Real Life and helping me keep the coffee flowing and the chaos mildly contained.

Your Turn:

Have a go-to breakfast that makes you feel like a main character in a cozy rom-com? Tell me in the comments. And if you try this recipe, tag me on IG (@jonesyinreallife) so I can hype you up and pretend we’re having brunch together.

Did Not See That Coming

Monday, March 31, 2025.

Just another morning. I was driving my daughter to school, sipping coffee, going over the mental checklist of mom life. You know—lunches packed, homework turned in, field trip form signed. Everything felt normal… until it didn’t.

Out of nowhere, I started to feel off. Not “I didn’t get enough sleep” off—something deeper. I couldn’t catch my breath. My chest felt tight, like I had swallowed water wrong and it was stuck in a bubble behind my breastbone. It wasn’t pain, just this uncomfortable pressure that wouldn’t go away.

So I called the one person I always call when I feel weird—my mom.

“Hey,” I said. “I think I’m dying… or having the worst panic attack of my life.”

And in classic mom fashion, without skipping a beat, she said,

“Well, only the good die young—and you’re not that good. So tell me how you’re feeling.”

God love her.

But after I explained more—about the breathlessness, the pressure, the sense of doom—she didn’t joke anymore. She told me to hang up right then and call 911. And for once, I listened.

Good thing I did.

Because I wasn’t having a panic attack. I was having a heart attack.

⸻

Healthy on Paper Doesn’t Mean Safe in Real Life

Let me say this louder for the people in the back: I am 41. I don’t smoke. I don’t have high blood pressure. My cholesterol’s decent. I chase three kids around and eat vegetables on purpose. By all accounts, I’m “healthy.” But heart disease doesn’t care.

There were no chest-clutching, movie-style dramatics. No shooting pain down my arm. Just a vague uneasiness, shortness of breath, and a feeling in my chest like something was stuck. Honestly, I almost powered through and dropped my daughter off anyway.

But I didn’t. And that’s why I’m still here.

⸻

Why I’m Sharing This

Because women die from heart disease every day—many because they didn’t recognize the signs. Or worse, they were dismissed. By themselves. By others. By doctors.

We need to talk about it more. We need to normalize women listening to their bodies, trusting their intuition, and seeking care even when they’re “not sure” it’s serious.

Your body whispers before it screams. Don’t wait until it’s yelling.

⸻

Today, I’m Just Grateful.

Grateful that I knew something was wrong.

Grateful that my mom answered the phone.

Grateful that I’m still here to write this.

If you take anything away from this post, let it be this:

Trust your gut. Take your health seriously. And never apologize for making noise when something doesn’t feel right.

Hug your people a little tighter tonight. I know I will.

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