This oatmeal recipe uses warm ingredients to balance and nourish your Qi, or vital energy, while the apples and pumpkin seeds provide skin-boosting vitamins and antioxidants. Warm foods are believed to strengthen digestion and promote smoother energy flow throughout the body, making them especially beneficial in the morning when your system is waking up and preparing to absorb nutrients. By supporting healthy digestion, this recipe helps your body more efficiently transform food into energy and nourishment.

Ingredients:

• 1/2 cup rolled oats
• 1 cup water or almond milk
• 1 small apple (chopped, peeled if preferred)
• 1 tablespoon pumpkin seeds (raw or lightly toasted)
• 1 teaspoon cinnamon (warming and supports digestion)
• 1 teaspoon honey or maple syrup (optional, to taste)
• A pinch of sea salt
• A dash of nutmeg (optional)

Instructions:

1. Cook the Oats: In a small saucepan, combine rolled oats and water (or almond milk). Bring to a simmer over medium heat, stirring occasionally.
2. Add the Apples: Stir in the chopped apples and cook with the oats for about 5-7 minutes until the apples soften and the oatmeal thickens.
3. Flavor the Oatmeal: Add the cinnamon, a pinch of sea salt, and nutmeg if using. Stir well to combine.
4. Top and Serve: Pour the oatmeal into a bowl and top with pumpkin seeds. Drizzle with honey or maple syrup, if desired.

Benefits of This Oatmeal Recipe

This oatmeal recipe is more than just a cozy breakfast—it’s intentionally supportive of both digestion and skin health. In Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), healthy digestion is considered a key foundation for clear, glowing skin, and apples play an important role here. Apples help hydrate and gently nourish the body while supporting digestive function, which may help the skin appear more balanced and radiant over time.

Pumpkin seeds add a powerful nutritional boost to the recipe. Naturally rich in zinc and vitamin E, they help support skin repair and protect the skin’s moisture barrier. These nutrients are especially important for maintaining resilient, healthy-looking skin, particularly during times of stress or seasonal change.

To round it out, cinnamon and nutmeg bring gentle warming properties that support digestion and overall internal balance. In TCM, warming spices help strengthen the digestive system and encourage better nutrient absorption, making this oatmeal not only comforting but also deeply supportive of whole-body wellness.

Make This Oatmeal TCM Recipe Today

This oatmeal recipe is a simple, nourishing way to incorporate TCM principles into your morning routine while supporting healthy skin from the inside out.

Try it with this Jujube and Goji berry tea.