Can You Put Ensure in Oatmeal? A Comprehensive Guide

November 15, 2025 •

4 min read

According to Ensure's official recipes, adding Ensure to oatmeal is a popular and approved method for boosting nutrition. This practice effectively turns a standard bowl of oats into a high-protein, calorie-dense meal suitable for those looking to gain weight, increase nutrient intake, or simply enjoy a more filling breakfast.

Quick Summary

Adding Ensure to oatmeal is an effective and safe way to enrich its nutritional profile. For hot oatmeal, Ensure should be stirred in after cooking to prevent clumping and preserve nutrients. For overnight oats, the liquid Ensure or powder can be combined with the oats and refrigerated. This technique is particularly beneficial for individuals needing extra calories and protein, such as the elderly, those recovering from illness, or athletes.

Key Points

Combine After Cooking: Always add liquid Ensure to hot oatmeal after cooking and letting it cool slightly to prevent the protein from clumping and curdling.
Choose Your Preparation: Ensure can be used in both hot oatmeal and cold overnight oats, offering flexibility based on your preference and schedule.
Boost Calories and Protein: Combining Ensure and oatmeal creates a nutrient-dense meal, significantly increasing calorie and protein content for individuals with higher needs, like those recovering from illness or trying to gain weight.
Enhance Overall Nutrition: The combination supplies a wider range of essential vitamins and minerals, including calcium, Vitamin D, and antioxidants, for better immune and bone health.
Customizable Meal: Both the flavor of the Ensure and the variety of potential toppings allow for a delicious and personalized breakfast every time.

Elevating Your Oatmeal with Ensure: The Best Practices

Adding Ensure to your morning oatmeal is a simple and effective way to significantly increase its nutritional value, transforming a basic breakfast into a powerhouse meal. The method you choose—hot preparation or overnight oats—depends on your preferences, but the result is a boost of protein, vitamins, and minerals. Proper technique is crucial to maintain a smooth texture and protect the integrity of the nutritional supplement.

How to Prepare Hot Oatmeal with Ensure

When mixing Ensure with hot oatmeal, timing and temperature are key to prevent a lumpy texture. The protein in Ensure can coagulate when exposed to high heat, so it's essential to add it after the oats have finished cooking and cooled slightly.

Step-by-step hot oatmeal recipe:

Cook your oats: Prepare your rolled or steel-cut oats on the stove or in the microwave according to package directions, using water or milk.
Cool slightly: Let the oatmeal rest for 1-2 minutes after cooking. It should be hot, but not boiling.
Stir in Ensure: Gradually pour in one bottle of liquid Ensure, stirring constantly until fully incorporated. You can also mix in Ensure powder with a small amount of liquid first to create a paste before adding to the oats.
Add toppings: Enhance flavor and nutrition with ingredients like fresh berries, sliced banana, nuts, or a dash of cinnamon.

Creating Nutrient-Packed Overnight Oats

For a convenient, make-ahead option, overnight oats with Ensure are an excellent choice. This method is particularly popular for busy mornings and produces a creamy, delicious result.

Overnight oats recipe:

Combine ingredients: In a jar or bowl, mix 1/2 cup of rolled oats with one bottle of liquid Ensure and any desired mix-ins, such as chia seeds, cocoa powder, or peanut butter.
Mix thoroughly: Stir well to ensure the oats are fully submerged and all ingredients are evenly distributed.
Refrigerate: Seal the container and refrigerate overnight (at least 6-8 hours).
Serve and enjoy: In the morning, top with fresh fruit or nuts. The oats will be ready to eat, no cooking required.

Nutritional Comparison: Standard Oatmeal vs. Ensure-Enriched Oatmeal

Adding Ensure fundamentally changes the nutritional profile of a bowl of oatmeal. This table demonstrates the potential difference, based on a single serving of oatmeal (prepared with water) and the addition of one 8-oz bottle of Ensure Original.


Nutritional Aspect	Standard Oatmeal (1/2 cup dry)	Oatmeal with Ensure (1/2 cup dry + 1 Ensure)
Calories	~150 kcal	~370-390 kcal
Protein	~5 g	~13-14 g
Fat	~3 g	~9-11 g
Carbohydrates	~27 g	~59-60 g
Key Vitamins/Minerals	Magnesium, Manganese, Iron	Additional Vitamins C, D, E, Calcium, Zinc

Note: Nutritional values are approximate and can vary depending on the specific Ensure product used and any additional toppings. For example, Ensure Plus provides more calories, while High Protein varieties boost protein content even further.

The Health Benefits of Combining Ensure and Oatmeal

This powerful combination offers several distinct health advantages, making it an ideal meal for specific nutritional needs.

Enhanced Caloric Intake: For individuals struggling with appetite or experiencing involuntary weight loss, adding Ensure significantly increases the caloric density of oatmeal, helping them meet their daily energy needs effectively.
Superior Muscle Support: The high-quality protein in Ensure, when combined with the healthy carbohydrates in oats, provides the body with the building blocks and fuel needed for muscle repair and maintenance, which is crucial for older adults and athletes.
Improved Vitamin and Mineral Profile: While oats are naturally nutritious, Ensure fills many potential nutrient gaps. It supplies a wide spectrum of essential vitamins and minerals, including calcium, Vitamin D, and antioxidants, supporting bone health and immune function.
Dietary Fiber for Digestive Health: Oats are an excellent source of dietary fiber, which aids digestion and promotes a healthy gut. The fiber content helps regulate blood sugar and contributes to a feeling of fullness, which can be beneficial for managing appetite.
Convenient and Palatable: For those who find it difficult to prepare large meals, this combination provides a convenient, easy-to-digest, and flavorful option. The various Ensure flavors can also make breakfast more appealing.

Tips for the Best Results

Choose the Right Ensure: Select an Ensure product based on your nutritional goals. Ensure Plus is great for weight gain, while Ensure High Protein is better for muscle support.
Temperature Control: For hot oats, always add Ensure after cooking to prevent clumping. The protein in Ensure can denature with high heat, affecting texture.
Experiment with Flavors: Ensure comes in flavors like vanilla, chocolate, and strawberry. Match the flavor to your oatmeal toppings for a delicious and customized meal.
Consider Ensure Powder: Ensure powder can also be used. For hot oats, mix it with a little water or milk to form a paste first. For overnight oats, mix the powder directly with the oats and other liquids.

Conclusion: A Simple Path to Enhanced Nutrition

Adding Ensure to oatmeal is not only possible but is a highly effective method for creating a more nutritionally complete meal. It provides an easy and delicious way to increase your intake of protein, calories, vitamins, and minerals, which can be beneficial for a variety of health goals, from managing weight to supporting recovery. By following the simple steps for either hot or overnight preparation, you can enjoy a fortified, satisfying meal that supports your overall health and well-being. For specific dietary concerns, consulting a healthcare professional is always a good idea, as highlighted by Harvard Health.

Frequently Asked Questions

Yes, you can use Ensure powder in oatmeal. For hot oatmeal, it is best to mix the powder with a small amount of liquid to form a paste before stirring it into the cooked, slightly cooled oats to prevent clumping. For overnight oats, you can mix the powder directly with the oats and liquid before refrigerating.

While heating Ensure won't destroy all its nutrients, exposing it to high, boiling temperatures can cause the proteins to curdle or denature, leading to a lumpy texture. It is best to stir Ensure into cooked oatmeal that has been allowed to cool slightly, so it is hot but not boiling.

Yes, adding Ensure to oatmeal is an excellent strategy for weight gain. The combination provides a calorie and protein-dense meal that can help individuals meet increased energy needs, particularly for those experiencing involuntary weight loss or malnutrition.

Rolled oats are a versatile and common choice for both hot oatmeal and overnight oats with Ensure. They absorb the liquid well and create a creamy texture. Steel-cut oats also work but require a longer cooking time for hot preparations.

Yes, Ensure is perfect for making overnight oats. Simply mix one bottle of liquid Ensure with your rolled oats and any other ingredients, and let the mixture sit in the refrigerator overnight. The oats will absorb the liquid, resulting in a creamy, ready-to-eat breakfast.

Yes, the flavor of the Ensure will influence the taste of your oatmeal. Ensure comes in various flavors like vanilla, chocolate, and strawberry, which can be paired with complementary toppings for a delicious result.

People with specific nutritional needs can benefit most, including older adults who need extra calories and protein, individuals recovering from illness or surgery, athletes, and those with a low appetite. It provides a convenient and palatable way to get essential nutrients.