Overnight oats have become such a popular breakfast that even major companies are trying to get in on the action. The appeal in them is partly the same appeal as other premade meals–you save a lot of time when you need it. You make your oats as fancy as you like in the evening and when you’re rushing out the door in the morning, they’re ready to go.
Of course, you could do that with a lot of foods. Oats are a particularly good pick for people watching their diet, though, because oats are so good for you. They can reduce cholesterol and the fiber in them keeps your digestive system motoring along. What that means for you is a flatter belly, which most people are looking for.
But again, the big draw for most people is their easiness, quickness, and the versatility. You can make so many different kinds of overnight oats. Here’s how to get started.
First, get a mason jar or other container that you can close tightly. Then, start with a third to a half cup of oats and a cup of the milk of your choice. You can substitute part of the milk with plain Greek yogurt if you’d like it thicker. Then add the extra ingredients of your choice. Common basic add-ins include chia seeds, flax meal, and spices like nutmeg and cinnamon. You can also add a sweetener if you’d like.
After that, go wild. Most people add in fruits. You can add one or as many as you can fit in the container. It’s your breakfast–make it how you want. You can make it as decadent as you want–add nut butter, add cocoa powder. Or you can make it tropical: try adding mango, banana, and coconut.
Whatever concoction you create, after you’re finishing mixing it up, pop it in the fridge and leave it overnight. In the morning, add toppings, if you fancy them, like nuts, raisins, or more fruit. Then you can eat it chilled as is, or warm it in a microwave, if you’d prefer. The possibilities are only as limited as your imagination.
