Do you think Quaker Instant Oatmeal is different?

[~~Who,Me?~~]

I've been eating Quaker Instant Oatmeal, maple & brown sugar, for as long as I can remember. Ever since I was a kid. DH loves it, the kids love it. I stockpile it whenever I can.

I just got a batch of 15 boxes for free at Superfresh last week. Today DH was eating it and he put it aside. He says "you bought vanilla or some flavor I don't like." I double checked the box and it is maple & brown sugar. But it does have different packaging & it's advertised as "new great taste! lower sugar! more fiber!" and other nonsense.

My kids will still eat the new kind but dh and I don't like it. Just wondering if anyone else noticed anything.

[Smee]

I don't really care for instant oatmeal that much, but I do like those maple and brown sugar ones and get them occasionally as treats if they're free or cheap enough. If I come across a deal, I'll be glad to research it further. I'd know within a minute if it was different. I hope someone else can weigh in. I don't eat it enough to be disappointed, and yet strangely enough, I would be.

[angel428]

The orginal is the same has not changed. But they do have one that is Lower Sugar I like it. But there is one that is higher in fiber and low sugar I cant stand that one.
HTH

[~~Who,Me?~~]

No! I've purchased the high fiber, low sugar one by accident before. Darned if dh wasn't on the desktop, I'd scan in the box and show you. Maybe tomorrow, lol. It's the regular maple & brown sugar.

[3timesoccermom]

Maybe you could get a little bottle of maple flavoring and add a tiny bit to it.

[gctattoo]

I absolutely noticed the difference! Of course, I didn't notice the wording on the package until now: Heartier Texture (yeah, giant oats), New Great Taste (the old taste was awesome; this so-so) & 25% Less Sugar (maybe I should dump some brown sugar in there then?).

I've been eating Quaker instant oatmeal since I was a tiny tot. I guess I had a good 35+ year run before they messed it up. *sigh* :(

[isis]

OMG, you are sooo right!! I thought I was going crazy myself. I eat oatmeal from time to time and prefer the Maple & Brown Sugar Variety and found the taste and texture is different. My dad buys the big box from Sams b/c my boys eat it every morning for breakfast and I've been finding the brown sugar part is so hard and thought maybe it was past exp date or something, but its well within date. So you got me curious and sure enough the Sams box and one of the 10ct boxes I bought (think from CVS deal) both have the yellow strip across the top that says --

NOW! Heartier Texture! New Great Taste! 25% Less Sugar!

Not happy. Wonder what made them change the formula??

[BamaLady]

They probably found some cheaper ingredients or something to substitute. This is going on with all packaged food. I've found I can make things from scratch better than the current Hamburger Helper or Rice-A-Roni.

When I was a kid, centuries ago, Mom would make oatmeal for breakfast (there was no instant back then). I'd put butter and brown sugar all in it.

I have several boxes of the "new and improved" oatmeal in my stash, have not yet gotten to it, as there are several boxes ahead of it. Really, I'm not looking forward to it, as I suspected on seeing the blurb on the package, that it had been changed. If it is not as tasty, I'll add brown sugar or honey or something. I wonder if the store brands of instant oatmeal will be "improved". Does anyone besides Quaker manufacture oatmeal?

Aside from that, do any of you all remember when a box of Rice-A-Roni would make enough rice to feed a family? Same for Hamburger Helper. Shrinkage. Its happening to everything. (Except my waistline, heh.)

[Smee]

Dang, if it has a heartier texture and less sugar, I may like it better than the old version. The reason I don't usually care much for instant oatmeal is because it's too mushy and too sweet. I usually cook steel cut oats overnight in the crock pot with diced apples, cinnamon, honey, and a sprinkle of salt. I'm curious now; I may pick up some of the new & improved instant.

[surgerynurse]

My son has eaten Quaker Instant Oatmeal - Maple and Brown Sugar everyday for about three years....seriously I don't even know how he does it. About a month ago, he went from eating two packets down to one and said that it tastes different, and he doesn't like it as well. Just a few days later, we saw the commercial on tv saying that Quaker is making their instant oatmeal with less sugar and more fiber. Aahhah! That's why. We're not thrilled with it either!