Veggie living :: Overnight Oats

Back in January I threw around the idea of trying Overnight Oats.  D and I finally hit up Trader Joe's and I stocked up on ingredients.  I looked at a couple different recipes and think I've settled on my own recipe.  I used Something to Chew Over's and Kath Eats Real Food's as basic starting points.

[This is what I started with on my first go-round]

The very best thing about overnight oats is the flexibility you have with them.   I rarely use PB jars for my oats.  I typically just throw everything into a mason jar and add a dollop of PB in the morning if I feel like it.  Here's what usually goes into my jar:

• 1/3 cup rolled oats
• 1/2 cup vanilla almond milk (only 45 calories!)
• 2 tablespoons greek yogurt
• 1 tablespoon flax seed
• 1/2 tablespoon honey
• Shake of cinnamon

In the morning:

• 1/2 cup blueberries
• 1/4 cup granola

[Sure doesn't look as good as it actually is]

On my first try, I didn't have greek yogurt and used less almond milk.  I found the mixture to be way too dry.  It was perfect once I added the yogurt and additional almond milk.  I also didn't feel the vanilla was necessary.  I'm not the biggest fan of bananas, but D loves to put in a mashed banana in his.  I didn't think D would be an overnight oats lover, but I've converted him.  He will often ask me to make them for him.

If we're running low on fruit, I'll throw in the dried cranberries as well as any fresh fruit we have.  Sometimes I feel as though the dried fruit adds a bit too much sweetness to my oats.  I usually don't add PB due to the fact that this ends up being a higher calorie meal for me (about 360 calories).  If you opt for peanut or almond butter, I would suggest a quick heating in the microwave and mixing everything.

My advice?  Mix up these oats however you like and grab them on the go in the morning!