These oatmeal chocolate cakes with mango coconut yoghurt are perfect for when you have visitors on the doorstep at short notice. You usually have the ingredients at home and the sweet temptation is on the table in 30 minutes.

How did the recipe come about?

My husband is a sweetie (in every sense of the word... :-)). To satisfy his sweet tooth and not harm his body, I developed this recipe. I also like the cakes very much and enjoy them warm for breakfast from time to time.

How healthy is oatmeal?

As with everything, the rule applies: ‘The dose makes the poison’. Every herb and food in the right dosage that is suitable for your own body can be a healing and real food.

Oatmeal has many nutrients and vitamins. They are considered a weight loss aid, are gentle on the gastrointestinal tract and aid digestion. Oatmeal is filling and gives us the energy we need for a busy day.

Oatmeal contains fibre, which is very important for good digestion. However, we should pay attention to our constitution and how much of this fibre we can consume. If the intestine is rather sluggish, it needs fibre, but if there is too much, it can easily overload the intestine. Therefore, dose carefully.

Oatmeal is often eaten raw in muesli in the morning. In Ayurveda, breakfast is only eaten warm. With a warm meal, the body does not have to heat the food for the digestion process. Especially in the morning, the body needs longer to switch from sleep mode to wakefulness. So if the body has already used up energy to ‘warm up’ the food, there is not so much left for the day.

For me personally, a hot breakfast is a must. When I'm travelling and don't have the opportunity to eat warm food, I don't feel so good. For example, if I eat the usual breakfast roll, I get palpitations and slight nausea. The body needs a lot more energy to digest the heavy roll.

Why is vegan yoghurt used in the oatmeal chocolate cakes with mango coconut yoghurt?

On the one hand, Ayurveda states that fruit should not be consumed together with cow's milk products in order not to burden the digestive system. On the other hand, I personally cannot tolerate cow's milk products.

During my last stay at the Ayurveda clinic, I came across the vegan and sugar-free yoghurt variant, which I tolerate well. The lactic acid bacteria are good for my gut and the flavour is light and tangy.

What should I bear in mind when buying vegan yoghurt?

As with any product from the supermarket or organic market, I pay attention to the ingredients. If you have an oversensitive gut like me, you have no other choice. For me personally, it is important that there is no added sugar or other fillers or preservatives in the yoghurt. I prefer coconut and almond yoghurt, which only contains pure coconut milk or almonds and uses locust bean gum as a stabiliser. I prefer lactic acid bacteria cultures as a bacterial culture.

I am careful with soya yoghurt, as soya contains natural oestrogen and can upset the hormone balance if consumed in excess. Soya can also trigger allergies and disrupt our system.