Make Ahead - Overnight Oats with Chia Seeds and Protein

There are some mornings I wished my breakfast was already made. Usually, my partner makes me a nice bowl of hot oatmeal before I go to work, but sometimes he has to pack it up so I can take it to go. I started thinking that it might just be best for me to have small tupperwares of oatmeal ready to go. I wasn't sure if I was going to enjoy oatmeal cold, but I love it!

On Sunday I do the following, I pull out 4-5 small tupperwares - the size is 2 cups each.  They are a perfect individual size. I mix all the ingredients on Sunday and put them in the fridge. After 2 hours and they have firmed up I add my fresh fruit on each, so that they are ready to go. On the day I eat them I may sprinkle some sliced almonds. And one question I get asked by my co-workers who see me eating this at my desk is - do the fruit and oatmeal taste fresh after a few days? And my answer is yet. I make sure that I completely dry the fruit before adding them to each container. I wash the fruit and then I leave them drying on top of a paper towel or dish towel on the counter. 

The base of it is just oats and milk and the rest is really optional. Once you have your base you can play around with flavors and toppings. 

Makes one serving for each container you make. 

Ingredients:

• 1/2 cups of oats
• 1/2 cups of milk (I use almond milk and I may add a splash more depending on how creamy I want it)
• 1-2 tablespoon of nonfat greek yogurt (I use 0% fage)
• 1 Tablespoon of Chia Seeds (or 1/2 tablespoon of chia seeds and 1/2 tablespoon of grounded flax)
• 1 scoop of Protein powder (About 1-2 tablespoons)
• A drizzle of agave/honey (optional)
• 1/2 teaspoon of cinnamon or as much as you like
• Fresh or frozen Blueberries or your favorite toppings. I usually add about 14 blueberries, and a cut up strawberry or whatever is in season.
• Sprinkle of dark chocolate chips (optional)
  
  
  

Directions: 

1. Pour all the ingredients in your individual container. I repeat this 4-5 in each individual container.

2. Mix the ingredients until combined as shown below. Next, put in the fridge.

3.  In the fridge, a few hours later and by the next morning the oats are ready, as shown below.

4. I then add fresh fruit, like strawberries and blueberries on top to each container and sometimes I add dark chocolate chips (no sugar added). I then close the lids and these are ready for a few days. And yes, they taste fresh for days!

5. On the day I am going to eat it, I sprinkle some sliced almonds.  It has been so helpful to have breakfast already ready and I absolutely love the way it tastes.

I am pretty simply and repeat the same toppings of blueberries, strawberries and sliced almonds. 

I have tried bananas with peanut butter and sliced apples with cinnamon and those are delicious options too.