Oats are one of those foods that I associated with special memories. I’m the youngest of three kids, so there was a short stage of my life where I got to be home with my mom by myself, when my older brothers were off to school. I always loved being in the kitchen with my mom. She always says she could just set me on the counter next to her and I wouldn’t move – I was happy there.

One of things I remember doing, that I associate with that time that was just for the two of us, was having oatmeal breakfasts. Other times, we'd bake oatmeal muffins and eat them with dinner for a special treat. Those memories, oats included, bring a smile to my face even now. And so I grew up loving oats.

I often cook oatmeal in the mornings when I need a hearty, warm meal to start off my day. I like stirring in different toppings, like walnuts or fresh berries or flaked coconut or even chunks of apple.

But sometimes it’s fun to shake things up. It was only a few months ago that I discovered a new, revolutionary way to prepare oats for breakfast: overnight oats. They take literally only a few minutes to prepare, can be taken with you in the morning if you need to eat on the go, and give a whole new texture and flavor to oats. Overnight oats are rich and creamy, and have a bit of a fresher feel than traditional oatmeal. 

Give this overnight oats recipe a try if you love oats, love new ways of preparing the same old ingredients, and love options for customizing your meal to your taste buds.

Overnight Oats Recipe

Ingredients:
½ c oats
½ c yogurt or non-dairy yogurt (I use plain unsweetened coconut milk yogurt)
½ c milk or non-dairy alternative (I use rice milk)
1 T chia seeds
 ½ t vanilla
Sprinkle of salt

Optional add-ins:
A little drizzle of maple syrup, agave, or your favorite sweetener

Berries
Chopped nuts
Spices, such as cinnamon
Nut butter or jam (or both?) swirled in

Directions:
-Mix all ingredients together in a small jar or on-the-go container with a lid.
-Let sit covered overnight in the refrigerator.
-In the morning, top with last-minute toppings (things like nuts and berries are best added fresh in the morning, rather than sitting overnight) and enjoy!

Want to see more tasty, healthy, and easy recipes? Subscribe to my newsletter - just scroll down on the page to sign up :)

How do you like to prepare your oats? Do you have favorite toppings or add-ins that give your overnight oats that special something? Share your ideas in the comments section below.