The Overnight Oats Craze

There are many reasons why you may not enjoy a healthy breakfast every morning. Money restrictions, time limitations or simply a lack of enthusiasm for the first meal of the day could mean that you are not starting your mornings with the fuel you need to get through the day! If you have tried overnight oats before then you will know that they are the answer to all three of these obstacles!

So, what are overnight oats?

Overnight oats are simply oats that have been left in the fridge to soak overnight. You can soak them in absolutely anything but the most popular choice is some kind of milk. You can include a wide range of other ingredients in your recipe, such as spices and fruits, nuts and seeds. You also don’t have to just eat them for breakfast as they can be enjoyed anytime – especially as a healthy but sweet dessert options after dinner. 

A Time Saver

This delicious breakfast dish is a great time saver for the mornings because all you have to do is take your jar of oats out of the fridge and enjoy! There is no additional preparation or waiting time from the moment you open the fridge!

Furthermore, it does not take long to prepare the oats the night before. You simply pour the oats into a jar, add milk and any additional ingredients that you desire, put the lid on the jar, and put the jar in the fridge! You can also make several jars at a time without the milk, and then add the milk to each jar the night before you are going to consume it.

A Money Saver

Oats are super inexpensive and if you are going to be eating them regularly for breakfast then it makes sense to buy in bulk – saving yourself even more money!

If you spend some time shopping around then you will easily be able to find a 50 lb bag of oats for around $50. A bag of this size will be enough for more than 200 servings of overnight oats! So, it is easy to see how opting for this dish each morning and shopping around can seriously save you some money! 

The additional ingredients that you add into your oats also do not have to be expensive, and you can always bulk buy these things to save yourself money too. It is simple to bulk buy things like cinnamon, chia seeds, flax seeds, desiccated coconut, plant-based milks and other tasty ingredients – all of which can be used in your overnight oat recipes. 

Get Creative in the Kitchen

One of the great things about this dish is that there are no limits as to how much fun you can have with your recipe. There are countless recipes available online that you can tailor to your own tastes.

Here’s a simple overnight oats recipe to get you started!

Ingredients:

• 1/2 cup of dry oats
• 2/3 cup of almond milk
• 1/2 tsp of vanilla extract
• 1 tbsp of chia seeds
• 1/2 an apple, grated

Method:

Simply add all of the ingredients to a jar and mix together before putting the lid on your jar and placing in your fridge. The next morning you can remove from the fridge and eat!

Nutrition

As well as being an easy breakfast dish, overnight oats are also full of the good stuff that your body craves.

First and foremost oats are a wholegrain food, meaning they do not lose a lot of their goodness during the manufacturing process. This leaves the final product with more vitamins, minerals and other nutrients than can be found in processed refined grains. Being a wholegrain product also means that oats are made up of complex carbohydrates – which is great for digestion and for keeping you satiated for longer.

Oats are a great source of phytonutrients, protein and healthy fats. They also contain exciting amounts of manganese, which is a trace mineral that your body needs for many essential functions. In addition to helping you reach your manganese quota, oats also contain beneficial amounts of zinc, phosphorous, selenium and iron. 

One cup of oats contains approximately 160 calories, making it a good choice for those who are on a calorie restricted diet, or those who are simply looking to lose a bit of weight. The same cup also contains four grams of fat and six grams of protein.

Healthy Breakfast Dish

As you can see, overnight oats are a great choice for anyone who wants to save money, save time and ensure that they are getting an adequate amount of nutrients in the morning. Give them a go for yourself and be sure to get creative with your recipes to keep things interesting! Try adding a different fruit every day to your base recipe and mixing things up with different flavours!

References

1) http://www.livestrong.com/article/39513-nutritional-value-oatmeal/