Overnight Oatmeal Makes a Great Solution for Early Mornings With No Time to Make Breakfast
I never would have thought I would be the kind of person who would take a 7 a.m. exercise class. I’m not really a morning person, and I haven’t gone to a gym in over 10 years. I used to be better about going to the gym, but then we got two big dogs that need lots of exercise, and something had to give.
My friend Varuni encouraged me to just try coming with her to her 7 a.m. core workout class. I never would have considered it, but the class is only 30 minutes, and I can do just about anything for 30 minutes. An hour would definitely do me in at that time fo day.
Although I walk for nearly an hour a day, my core has gone very soft. I know it’s so important to have a strong core, especially to keep us upright and prevent back injuries as we age, so I knew this was something I should make time for. Plus Varuni is so charming she’s very hard to resist, and she even offered to pick me up and drop me off.
After a few CSX classes I was hooked, and now V (as we all call her) picks me up at 6:45 each Tuesday and Thursday so we get time to catch up in her minivan. While I love feeling stronger and spending time with a friend, the truth is that at this point, about 6 weeks in, I just want to come home and take a nap afterwards. I’m hoping that will pass after a few more weeks.
One thing I’ve struggled with is what to do about breakfast on CSX days—I don’t want to eat much before class, but if I don’t eat anything I start to feel weak and nauseous by the end of class. After class I usually grab my dogs and race out to meet friends for a 7:45 a.m. walk, so I don’t really have time to make anything substantial after class, either.
I’ve come up with a great solution: Overnight oatmeal. I can make it in about 5 minutes the night before class. In the morning, I have a couple of bites before class, then I finish it in the car ride home after class and feel very nourished. It is a great solution for these early mornings.
This overnight oatmeal recipe has my favorite indulgent flavors of chocolate, peanut butter and creamy banana, but there is no sugar added so it doesn’t start my day with a burst of sugary energy that peters out too quickly. I brought a jar of the oatmeal to Varuni this morning for her to enjoy on the way home from the gym and she couldn’t believe how rich and creamy it is, and how sweet it tastes without any added sugar! (Varuni is also a member of our Facebook sugar cleanse group, which you can learn more about and join here.)
You can experiment with the flavors and ingredients—I’ve also added unsweetened shredded coconut and a pinch of ground cloves or cardamom to the mix, and you can use dairy milk or yogurt for the liquid instead of the almond milk. Let me know what you think of this grab-and-go pre- or post-workout breakfast!
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Overnight Oatmeal Recipe: Peanut Butter, Banana and Chocolate Overnight Oatmeal (No-Sugar Added!)
Gluten free, dairy free option
Prep (5 minutes)
Makes one serving.
1/4 cup steel cut oats or 1/2 cup rolled oats
1 tsp. chia seeds (optional)
1/8 tsp. cinnamon
1/8 tsp. salt (just use a pinch) (I find the salt adds flavor and a nice contrast to the sweet ingredients, but you don’t need to use it)
1 tsp. unsweetened cocoa powder
1 Tbsp. unsweetened cocoa nibs (optional but so good if you can find them), or use unsweetened chocolate, finely chopped
1 Tbsp. unsweetened peanut butter (or use almond butter)
1 banana (mash half into the jar and slice the other half thinly)
1 cup unsweetened almond milk, vanilla or regular flavor, or use dairy milk or plain yogurt
1 Tbsp. unsweetened peanut butter powder, such as Crazy Richard’s Pure PB (optional)
In a 16 oz. or larger jar, combine the dry ingredients, mash in 1/2 the banana, then stir in the milk and banana slices. Shake and set out at room temperature for at least 8 hours and up to 12. (If using dairy milk or yogurt, refrigerate it instead of leaving it out overnight). In the morning, give it a shake or a stir and eat it at room temperature or warm it, to taste.
Nutritional Information per Serving (% based upon Daily Values):
Calories 541, Total Fat 21.5g, 33%, Saturated Fat 5g, 25.5%, Cholesterol 0mg, 0%, Sodium 297mg, 12.5%, Carbohydrate 73g, 24.5%, Dietary Fiber 15g, 60%, Sugar 17.5g, Protein 19g
2 Responses
I’m very excited to try this! What if the almond milk is already refrigerated – should the oatmeal be refrigerated as well or is it ok to leave out?
I never refrigerate mine even though I keep my almond milk refrigerated, but if it makes you feel more comfortable you definitely should.