Recipe: Overnight Oats

It’s easy to let our busy lives get in the way of nutrition.  Between work, family, friends and trying to squeeze in a little “me” time, sometimes nutrition lands itself at the bottom of our priorities totem pole.  We’re constantly on the hunt for new ways to keep our bodies nourished and still balance anything life throws our way.
 
When we came across a recipe that promised to make our mornings a little easier and keep us from skipping the most important meal of the day (so easy to do… we’re definitely guilty of it), we decided to give it a shot.
 
To say it’s easy would be an understatement.  To say it’s delicious would be spot on. 
Full of protein, thanks to the peanut butter, this recipe will keep you fueled throughout your morning. The chia seeds also supply an excellent source of omega-3 fatty acids, antioxidants and fiber.  Add some fresh fruit to top it off to squeeze in one of your daily servings to kick start your day. 
 
If you know you’re going to have a busy week coming up, we definitely suggest prepping a few of these overnight oats for an easy, on-the-go meal. 

Recipe:

• 1/2 cup unsweetened plain almond milk
• 3/4 tbsp chia seeds
• 2 tbsp natural salted peanut butter or almond butter
• 1 tbsp maple syrup (or sub coconut sugar, organic brown sugar, or stevia to taste)
• 1/2 cup gluten free rolled oats

Toppings:

• Sliced banana, strawberries, or raspberries
• Flaxseed meal or additional chia seed
• Granola

Instructions:

1. In a mason jar or small bowl add almond milk, chia seeds, peanut butter, and maple syrup (or other sweetener) and stir with a spoon to combine.  The peanut butter doesn’t need to be completely mixed with the almond milk (doing so leaves swirls of peanut butter to enjoy the next day).
2. Add oats and stir a few more times, then press down with a spoon to ensure all oats have been moistened and are immersed in almond milk.
3. Cover securely with a lid or plastic wrap and set in the refrigerator overnight (or for at least 6 hours).
4. The next day, open and enjoy as is, or garnish with desired toppings.
5. Overnights will keep in the refrigerator for up to 2 days, though best within first 12-24 hours.