I am the first person who will tell you that oatmeal is the ultimate breakfast food. You can make it sweet, savory, hot, cold, baked, microwaved… literally anything you want. There are a billion toppings possible to choose from for whatever taste suits your fancy that day. Personally, I am a die-hard peanut butter fan, so my go-to is just instant oats (I love these 1-minute Quaker oats) and smooth, creamy peanut butter (Jif Natural Creamy is my favorite). I might even add some chocolate protein powder if I’m feeling fancy. However, as the weather is starting to get warm again (fingers crossed lol, not trying to jinx it) and we shift from hot coffee to iced coffee, it feels only fitting to shift from hot to cold oats. You might be asking yourself how oats can be cold if they’re made in the microwave. But I have the perfect solution. Allow me to introduce you to the concept of overnight oats.
Overnight oats are, IMO, the holy grail of cool breakfast foods. Although somewhat controversial because of how normalized hot oats are, I believe that they are quite delicious and definitely worth it. Plus, you get the bonus of a ready-to-eat meal first thing in the morning when you’re rushing off to class. The recipe itself is super simple – literally just add a 1:1 ratio of oats to liquid (this can be almond milk, water, whatever you want) to a Tupperware container or a bowl you can cover with Press-N-Seal and pop it in the fridge before you go to sleep at night. You can also get fancy and add honey or chia seeds to your oatmeal before it goes into the fridge for added texture or flavor, but it isn’t necessary. And when you wake up the next morning, just top it with whatever you like and it’s ready! Bonus: if you make it in a lidded container (think Mason Jar or Tupperware), you can toss it in your bag for later if you’re super busy.
If you’re someone who struggles with getting creative in the kitchen, here are some of my favorite flavor combinations and recipes for overnight oats. Remember you can always modify the yogurt/almond milk or whatever liquid is used for the same amount of regular almond milk, water, or any liquid of your choosing. Enjoy!
Peanut Butter (Minimalist Baker)
Chocolate (Chocolate Covered Katie)
Peanut Butter Banana (Fit Foodie Finds)