Blueberry Mango Overnight Oats

Breakfast is one of the most important meals of the day, however many people find it to be one of the most challenging meals to eat consistently. Lack of time to prepare it is usually a big barrier to eating breakfast. One of the solutions to this is to prepare your breakfast ahead of time. If you like oatmeal but don’t have the time in the morning to prepare it, then you might want to give overnight oats a try. This recipe can be assembled in the evening within minutes and will save you time in the morning. There are some brands that sell overnight oats in containers (you simply add the liquid at home). While those options are great if you’re traveling or are out of town, you can make your own at home. Trust me, you’ll put this together in under five minutes (or less!).

Oats

I’ve written before about the benefits of oats, but simply put oats are probably one of the best breakfast foods to have. They are a complex carbohydrate, meaning they provide you with long lasting energy without spiking your blood sugars. They are a great source of psyllium fiber, the type of fiber that helps reduce cholesterol. The fiber in oats also means that it helps with increased satiety so you don’t feel the urge to snack in an hour. Oats also contain vitamins and minerals such as magnesium, vitamin B1, selenium, iron and zinc.

Equipment

To make these overnight oats I recommend using medium sized mason jars. They are airtight and leak proof so you could carry them with you on the go or store them in the fridge for the following days. You can find mason jars at any supermarket, arts store, or amazon.

Basic Overnight Oat Recipe Overview

This recipe can be tailored to your preferences and likings. The basic ‘recipe’ is one part oats, one part milk, and one part greek yogurt (eg. ½ cup oats + ½ cup milk + ½ cup greek yogurt). If you don’t like the yogurt or don’t have any, you can skip it and just increase the liquid to 1 cup (eg. ½ cup oats and 1 cup milk). I recommend adding the yogurt if you would like a creamy consistency. Once you put the recipe together, you can top the oats with whatever toppings, sweeteners and fruit you enjoy the most. Store the oat mixture in the fridge overnight so the oats ‘cook’, then in the morning enjoy straight from the fridge or warm up in the microwave for a few seconds. No time to eat in the morning? Take the mason jar with you to work!