Breakfast has long been touted as the most important meal of the day. But if you’re like most Americans, you don’t have the luxury of making it a lengthy, sit down affair. If you’re lucky, it’s a bowl of cereal before dashing out the door. And if you’re late, it’s a grab-and-go option like a bar, or a muffin from the coffee shop next to the office. However, there’s another option that can be just as fast and, according to a study in Journal of the American College of Nutrition, could help you lose weight: oatmeal.
Oatmeal is more fun to make and eat than ever before! A quick scroll through Pinterest proves this whole grain is having a moment—thanks to a trend to make it overnight and eat it cold, straight out of the fridge. Want to give it a try? Gather your favorite ingredients and follow these simple directions. Prep your morning meal the night before in a container with a lid (food bloggers love mason jars), and you’ll be all set for the next day. Better yet, make several servings on Sunday to last you through the work week.
Easy Overnight Oats
Ingredients
- ½ cup rolled, uncooked Oats
- 1 cup Liquid
- Spices (optional)
- Fruit (optional)
- Nuts (optional)
Directions
- Start with ½ cup of rolled oats in a container with a lid.
- Add 1 cup liquid—milk, almond milk, coconut milk, and water all work.
- Sprinkle on spice—cinnamon, nutmeg, and ginger are good.
- Stir in fruit—raisins, diced pear, sliced banana, the options are endless. (Fruit adds plenty of healthy sweetness to the oats, but if you’d like more you can always add a dash of honey or maple syrup before eating.)
- Top with nuts (if using), such as almonds, pecans, or walnuts.
- Cover and refrigerate overnight, or until the oats have absorbed all of the liquid.
3 Delicious Overnight Oats Combos to Try
Tropical Oats
Oatmeal + Coconut Milk + sliced Banana + sliced Mango + Coconut Flakes
Cherry Almond Oats
Oatmeal + Water + dried Cherries + Almonds
Pumpkin Pecan Oats
Oatmeal + Milk + pureed Pumpkin + Pumpkin Pie Spice + Pecans
This information is for educational purposes only and is not intended as a substitute for medical diagnosis or treatment. You should not use this information to diagnose or treat a health problem or condition. Always check with your doctor before changing your diet, altering your sleep habits, taking supplements, or starting a new fitness routine.
Kimberly Daly Farrell
Kimberly Daly Farrell is the managing editor at Fitbit. A certified health coach and self-diagnosed running addict, Kimberly studied integrative nutrition and has completed three marathons. She has previously held editorial positions at Shape, Glamour, Fitness, and Good Housekeeping magazines.
I have this almost every day for breakfast. It’s simple to prepare, delicious, and nutritious. Try it…you’ll like it.
Do you heat up the overnight oats in the morning?
Nope. Guess you could but the point is it’s ready to eat out of the fridge and delicious. I’ve been doing for years. My standard recipe is oats + 1/2 diced avocado + nuts (usually pecans or walnuts) + blueberries + lots of cinnamon and pinch of nutmeg.
do the overnight oats need to be cooked?
Wow! What a great idea. Hate to cook oatmeal (or anything else, for that matter). Now it’s done by morning for me. Yeah.
No I don’t think so
It is better to use steel cut oats than whole rolled oats.
No cooking it?
I was hoping to read the comments of others. This is frustrating.
No cooking the whole rolled oats! The liquid that is absorbed overnight, makes the oats soft. If you use a combo of rolled and steel cut, the steel cut will be a little chewy, so it adds texture. If you use all steel cut, you might need a little more liquid. You have to experiment.
I do not heat it up, in the morning. I eat the cold overnight oats during the summer, and the cooked oats during the winter. Personal preference! If you look at Pinterest or Google, you can find mason jar overnight oats using Yogurt. I love it! Add a tablespoon of canned pumpkin and a little pumpkin pie spice for a fall treat!
I love my overnight oats with a tablespoon of chia seeds. I top with frozen fruit the night before and in the morning, I microwave for 20 seconds (don’t like cold food right out of the fridge) and it’s a great way to start the day.
do i can warm it up or not? i like to eat warm
Never knew you could eat raw oats, and I certainly would not have expected them to taste good. I can’t wait to give it a try, especially for my husband. Many thanks for posting.