Ultimate Overnight Oats (Vegan + GF)

Do you guys like oats? Because as a kid, I used to hate them. Right now, I have them for breakfast at least 6 days a week. Funny how things change.

Ahhhh, time… it changes your perspective on things quite a bit, doesn’t it? I didn’t care how many times my grandma told me that oats were “good for you” I still thought they tasted like paper.

So why do I call these “ultimate” overnight oats? Because they’ve got everything you may want from your breakfast (or lunch or dinner, I won’t judge you, I have oats for dinner all the time, is that weird?) both in terms of flavor and nutrition.

You have peanut butter for a little creaminess, chia, hemp and flax seeds for omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids to give you that gorgeous complexion, there are antioxidants and fiber, you’ve also got some granola and walnuts for a little crunchiness and, finally some berries with- if it floats your boat- caramel for a little sweetness. This right here describes my perfect breakfast, lunch AND dinner.

ULTIMATE OVERNIGHT OATS

1/2 cup of rolled oats
3/4 cup of almond milk (unsweetened)
1 TBS chia seeds
1 TBS natural peanut butter
1 small ripe banana
handful of walnuts
handful of blueberries
handful of strawberries
granola (homemade or gluten-free)
1 TBS flax and hemp blend
Optional: vegan caramel sauce (I used this recipe)

1. In a bowl, mash the banana using a fork. Add oats, milk, peanut butter and chia seeds, mix well and refrigerate uncovered overnight (or at least for 3-4 hours).
2. Once the oats are ready, top them off with some granola, fresh berries, walnuts, flax and hemp blend and caramel sauce, if using. This will make one big, or two small portions.If cold oats are not your thing, you can easily use the same toppings with warm oats.

Adding caramel sauce, as I previously said, is definitely optional, but it does take this already delicious breakfast to another level.