Overnight Oats explained: know your ingredients

By / Food / November 28th, 2020 / 24
Overnight oats explained

We all know mornings can be hard. You’ve got to get out of bed (a task that sounds much easier than it often feels), get dressed, make coffee, get ready for work, and make it to the office on time, all before the workday even starts. Even though “making it to the office on time” has become a short commute to the living room, I’ll admit that in the chaos of a busy morning, breakfast sometimes doesn’t make the cut. That’s why overnight oats are such a game changer – they’re easy, healthy, and inexpensive.

What are Overnight Oats?

If you don’t already know, overnight oats are kind of like a cold oatmeal (trust me, it tastes much better than it sounds). You mix oats with milk and fruits, and let it sit overnight so the grain absorbs the liquid and softens. As overnight oats are prepped the night before, they are ready to go as soon as you are, so you never again have to miss the most important meal of the day.

How do you make Overnight Oats?

1 cup milk
1/2 cup oats*
Any kind of fruit you fancy

Mix everything in a jar. Leave in the fridge for 4-8 hours (best overnight), and voila.

*Rolled oats are my preference, but you could also use steel cut. Learn about the different types of oats here.

What makes overnight oats so great?

In addition to the limited time and effort involved in its prep, overnight oats are totally customizable. Too liquidy? Lower the milk-to-oat ratio. Need some crunch? Mix in nuts or chunky peanut butter for texture. Not sweet enough? Add honey or maple syrup. I like to toss in a sprinkle of chia seeds for an extra boost of fiber and omega-3. Apple cinnamon and vanilla strawberry are another two of my go-tos, but truly anything you have on hand could work.

Here are a few recipes to get you started:

Peanut Butter Overnight Oats if you’re like me, peanut butter is a selling point for just about anything. Recipe by the Minimalist Baker.

Matcha Coconut Overnight Oats sweet and textured, with a little extra boost of green caffeine for the mornings that feel extra slow. Recipe by Flavor the Moment.

Apple Cinnamon Overnight Oats apple cinnamon is a classic for a reason and I say if it ain’t broke . . . well, you know the rest. Recipe by Well Plated.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Natalie Pressman is a freelance journalist based out of Toronto. She enjoys arguing loudly about oxford comas, and almost always has snacks. You can find her on twitter at @natpressman.

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