Simple Overnight Oats
While convenient, pre-flavored oatmeal packets can be high in sugar, expensive and overly processed. Overnight oats can be made in minutes and allows for control over ingredients including sugars, spices and add-ins making it a breakfast (or lunch, or snack) that is easy, can be made in advance and will taste exactly as YOU want it to. And because of its simplicity, the kids can even make their own healthy, satisfying breakfast ahead of time. Everybody wins!
Ingredients
1/2 cup old-fashioned oats*
1/2 cup milk (whichever type you prefer: cow, unsweetened almond, oat or soy)
1/2 teaspoon pure maple syrup or honey
1/4 teaspoon vanilla extract
Spices (optional) like cinnamon, cardamom, or nutmeg
For serving, optional: fresh or frozen fruit, sliced or slivered almonds, other nuts or nut butters, dried fruit
Procedure
-Combine oats, milk, maple syrup/honey and vanilla in a jar or container with lid. Seal and shake to mix.
-Refrigerate overnight or at least 6 hours & up to 4 days. You can make a few batches in advance!
-Before serving stir and add any preferred toppings such as nut butter, chia seeds, berries, yogurt, dried fruit, honey, almonds, banana, nuts, etc. (Frozen fruit can be added when making oatmeal to give fruit time to thaw & yummy fruit juices to blend with oats).
-Oats can be eaten cold or warmed.
*use old fashioned oats only as quick oats will get soggy; steel cut won’t absorb milk