Oatmeal, real oatmeal not the instant stuff, has always been one of my favorite breakfast meals. It is simple to make and cooks relatively fast, but can be made even easier as overnight oats. Overnight oats involve soaking rolled oats, as well as ingredients such as chia seeds, hemp seeds, bananas, cocoa powder and/or sweetener in a bowl overnight. When you wake up, the oats are soft and ready to eat cold. Just scoop out a portion (or portion them as you put in them in the fridge), and add you favorite oatmeal toppings.
Having oats for breakfast are a fantastic way to eat hearty, yet healthy for your first meal of the day. They are a whole grain, which means they have healthy fiber and protein; are low glycemic and slightly alkaline, which means your body will stay balanced; and they are also naturally gluten free, which makes them easy to digest.
Benefits of Oats:
- naturally gluten free
- high in hearty healthy fiber
- contain protein
- high in iron
- easy to cook (or soak)
- versatile for use – flour, breads, oatmeal, granola, cookies, etc
- when topped with some fresh fruit, you get a boost in nutrients and antioxidants.
If cold oats aren’t your thing, it is super easy to turn your favorite overnight oats into a warm, creamy bowl of oatmeal – in less time than it takes to cook them from scratch.
Hot and Tasty Overnight Oats:
Makes 2-4 servings
2 cups rolled oats (gluten free)
1/4 cup chia seeds
2 tbsp organic cane sugar (or other natural sweetener)
1 tsp sea salt
2 cups unsweetened vanilla almond milk (or any other milk)
1-2 tbsp milk (as needed) to thin out or to pour over heated oats
*optional granola for topping
Add all ingredients to a bowl. Stir until fully mixed. Pop a lid on the bowl and store in the fridge, thickening overnight. When ready to eat, scoop out your portion. Then, simply add a splash of almond milk as needed and heat over medium-low until warm. Top with fresh fruit, dates, nut butter, seeds, etc as desired. I topped mine with fresh berries and banana, soy milk, coconut, and granola. Store the remaining portions in the fridge for up to a week, reheating as needed.
For more simple recipes like this, make sure to check out Healthy Body 4 Life or private coaching with The Simply Healthy Life.
Enjoy!
