Know Your Oats

High in protein and fiber, overnight oats are a great way to enjoy whole grains that will sustain you until lunch. We make them in batches at the beginning of the week in 1/4 liter Weck Jars or lightweight stainless steel containers you can take to work without spilling. And once you get the base down, it's easy to iterate on it with all kinds of yummy combinations: apple cinnamon, blueberry chia, banana walnut, strawberry pistachio, the possibilities are endless! When healthy food blogger My Whole Food Life told us she had a recipe that tastes like a warm, oatmeal chocolate chip cookie, we quickly added that to our morning rotation!  Get the recipe below. 

Know Your Oats

There are many different types of oats. Here's a quick guide: 

  • Oat Groats – Also known as grain kernel, these are the oats right after they have been harvested and the inedible hulls have been removed. Oat groats take the longest to cook and need to be soaked prior to using in overnight oats recipes.
  • Steel Cut Oats – Steel cut oats are made when you cut groats into smaller pieces. Doing this helps them cook a little faster. Their texture is perfect for overnight oats.
  • Rolled Oats – When you steam oat groats, they can be rolled into rolled oats. Rolled oats also go by the name old fashioned oats.
  • Quick Oats – Quick oats are rolled oats that are steamed longer so they take very little time to cook. This variety gets too mushy when used in recipes for overnight oats.

Recipe

Cookie Dough Overnight Oats

Ingredients

  • 1/2 cup gluten free rolled oats or steel cut oats
  • 1 T coconut sugar (or 1 chopped date)
  • 1 tsp chia seeds
  • 1 tsp flax meal
  • 1 tsp ground vanilla beans
  • 1 T chocolate chips
  • 1/2 cup almond milk or milk of choice

Directions

  • Mix all ingredients in a jar. Cover and store in the refrigerator overnight.
  • Notes: You can make up to 5 individual servings at a time for quick breakfasts all week. In the morning, heat up for warm oats or enjoy them cold. It's important to mix all the ingredients very well before placing in the refrigerator.

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What's your favorite way to enjoy oats? What's your favorite overnight oats flavor combo?