the scoop on: overnight oats

even with all of the research done surrounding the importance of big, full, nutrient-rich breakfasts and all of the findings that highlight this as the “most important meal of the day,” it is still too easy to altogether skip breakfast, or, at the very least, rush out the door with a Larabar in hand, and no immediate plans to eat anything more substantial. We’ve all been there, and when it’s the choice between a well-balanced breakfast and a shower, or, more importantly, an extra twenty minutes of sleep, it’s hard to vote for the breakfast. Here’s where the little miracle called overnight oats enters the scene. Oats are a ridiculously great way to start the day – alone, they are packed with a solid profile of micronutrients, are fiber-rich and filling without being overly calorie dense, and also taste really delicious (when prepared properly… forget that hotel breakfast oat-mush, or the cardboardy microwave oats…). They keep your heart healthy, stabilize your blood sugar, AND are naturally gluten-free (!!).  With the added benefit of chia seeds, coconut milk, and some frozen berries, this little mason jar contains a full serving of everything your body could ever think to want at the beginning of a day. And the best part? It all takes five minutes to prepare, THE NIGHT BEFORE. Boom. It’s the easiest thing ever in the world.

So how?

Take a small to medium sized mason jar, and fill it halfway with dry oats. Cover the dry oats in water, until about 3/4 of the jar is full. Add in a little pour of coconut or almond milk, and a spoonful of chia seeds. At this point, you can add in frozen berries, cinnamon, raisins, even honey… whatever you usually crave on your oatmeal. Once that’s done, throw the lid on and pop it in the fridge. By morning, the oats and chia seeds will have soaked into a filling and delicious breakfast. Voila! Literally, a  stress-free morning in a jar.