One of the biggest mistakes dieters make is not eating breakfast. It's a bad way to start the day. Dieters say they are in a hurry, but you can prepare a bowl of oatmeal in just a minute or two.

And what better food to consume than oatmeal. Simple to make, cheap to buy, and so nutritious. It even tastes good.

We've all heard about the health benefits of the fiber found in oatmeal. Oatmeal also contains:

high levels of selenium reported to prevent cell damage and aid arthritis

vitamins B, C, and E

calcium

and it's low in calories.

Mix in a 2 to 1 ratio of water to oats; for example, half a cup of water to one fourth cup of oats. Then microwave for about 1 to 2 minutes. Keep an eye on it to make sure it doesn't boil over the sides of your bowl.

That's it. It doesn't get much easier. Make sure you buy the quick cooking oats.

Want to get more creative with oatmeal? Check out the web site of one the largest packagers of oats, Pepsico subsidiary, Quaker Oats, at http://www.quakeroatmeal.com. Their site is loaded with health information and tons of recipes.

While Quaker has done plenty to promote the humble oat, your best bet price wise is the generic or store brand oats. It's the same thing.

Buying individually packaged oatmeal is like buying flavored bottled water. Maybe you don't have the peaches or strawberries to flavor your oatmeal that day, but you'll be paying a hefty price for those tiny, dried bits of fruit. You certainly want to avoid artificial sweeteners and preservatives, too.

It's a simple matter to measure out the oatmeal from the container and stir in a little brown sugar to flavor the mix. It doesn't take much more effort to buy a piece of fruit at the grocery store and slice it into your bowl. Eat half of that peach or bunch of strawberries, and add the other half to your oatmeal.

Virtually any fruit makes a good accompaniment to oatmeal. Toss in a handful of your favorite nut, walnuts, pecans, almonds, or try raisins.

But why stop at breakfast? Oatmeal serves up a fast snack any time of the day.

Start the day with a healthy new habit. Eat breakfast every day, and make it oatmeal.