Breakfast…it has never been my favorite meal. I am that person who would rather eat tuna fish and crackers over a typical breakfast.

However, I know that it’s the most important meal of the day AND it sets the tone for the rest of your meals each day. This is such an important step when you are trying to stay on track.

I kept seeing these recipes on Pinterest for overnight oats. Even though I have never been a big fan of oatmeal, these recipes always looked interesting to me. The idea of being able to assemble everything the night before (with no baking required, I might add), store overnight in the refrigerator and simply grab the next morning sounded like something I needed to try.

Once I started looking at different recipes, I realized that the possibilities with this dish were endless! You could make them as simple or over the top as you wanted…or your tastebuds and budget allow. These were some of the flavors that I saw in the first couple minutes scrolling through Pinterest:

• Peanut Butter Banana
• Raspberry Vanilla
• Peach Cobbler
• Strawberry Chia
• Vanilla Protein
• Maple & Brown Sugar
• Cookie Dough
• Strawberry Shortcake

The first time I made these, I used fresh fruit and did not add the honey. I thought they were pretty good but I knew there was room for improvement as the fruit tasted a little mushy the next morning.

The second time I made these I knew I had a basic recipe that was a keeper. The dried fruit tasted so good. The texture was sweet and chewy. The addition of the honey added the perfect amount of sweetness to balance out the nuts.

Don’t be intimidated by the protein powder and the chia seeds. The protein powder is a great way to add extra protein to your diet. Best of all…it adds a subtle vanilla sweetness to the oats. I bought mine from Harris Teeter for $10. The chia seeds are loaded with protein, fiber, Omega-3 fatty acids & micronutrients.

I hope that you enjoy!

INGREDIENTS

Old Fashioned or Steel Cut Oats – 1/2 Cup

Vanilla Protein Powder – 1 Tbsp.

Chia Seeds – 1 Tbsp.

Dried Fruit – (Raisins, Craisins, Strawberries, Bananas, Coconut or Blueberries)

Honey

Nuts – (Almonds, Walnuts or Cashews)

Milk – (Almond, Cashew or Skim)

DIRECTIONS

You will need 12 ounce Mason Jars for this recipe. Anything smaller, you will not have enough room for all of your ingredients.

Layer your ingredients, starting with the oats and ending with the milk. I purposely did not add specific amounts for the fruit, nuts & honey. Play around with it a little and see what suits you & your family best!

Once all of your ingredients have been added to the jar, you should still be left with enough room at the top so that you can easily shake the jar.

Seal the lid tightly and shake until all of the ingredients are mixed. Store overnight in the refrigerator. Before eating, shake the jar again to re-mix the oats.