Overnight Oats 5 Ways

Breakfast, as we know, is an important meal and a great way to start the day. Along with providing us with energy, breakfast can be a good source of important nutrients such as calcium, iron and B vitamins as well as protein and fibre. Overnight oats are so simple to prepare and they are a fantastic time saver in the morning!

Our overnight oats recipes are easy to make and perfect for kids and adults. Overnight oats are a great way to get the kids involved in meal preparation and in making their own choices. They can help to measure the oats and milk and chop the fruit. The only equipment you need are scales and a bowl/ glass jar/ plastic food container, which is easy to store in the fridge.

We love preparing overnight oats for breakfast as they’re so adaptable- depending on what you have in the house. The basic ingredients are simply oats and milk. Check out our blog Which Milk Should I Offer for My Toddler (opens in new tab) for tips on which milk to choose. For babies over the age of 6 months, cow’s milk can be used as an ingredient (but not as a main milk drink, until over the age of 1 year). You can also use yoghurt with, or instead of, milk. We share some of our favourite toppings below and we would love for you to share yours too! Tag us in any of your creations using #eatinwithearlystart

Equipment:

• Scales
• Glass or Plastic Container

Ingredients:

Serves 1 (for more, multiple by the number of family members you are preparing it for)

• 40g oats
• 75 mls of milk (any type)
• 2 tbsp of natural yoghurt
• Toppings of your choice: fruit, nuts, peanut butter, coconut flakes

Method Overnight Oats:

Simply mix the oats, milk and yoghurt together in a bowl. Transfer to your chosen container, close the top and give it a shake. Place in the fridge overnight. The oats absorb the liquid and soften overnight, turning into porridge by morning! If the porridge is too thick, simply add some extra yoghurt or milk. Finally, add the toppings of your choosing to your finished overnight oats! See some of our favourite toppings below.

Storage:

Overnight oats can be stored in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 5 days.  If you’re planning to store your overnight oats for a number of days, it’s best to leave out things like nuts, coconut flakes, and fresh fruit, as they’ll soften while sitting in the fridge. Stir them into your serving just before tucking in for the best results.

A Note for Babies

All of the above recipes are suitable to offer to babies with the following considerations:

• You can make the over night oats with baby’s usual milk (breast milk or first infant formula) or cow’s milk if baby is over 6’s months
• Soft fruit such as banana can be mashed with the porridge oats 
• Hard fruits such as apple can be softened by steaming or simmering them until soft
• Chop dried fruits, such as raisins, dates and apricots, and only include as part of a meal e.g. add to porridge
• Avoid offering hard foods, such as whole or broken nuts. Instead, crush or flake nuts and peanuts and add to dishes, such as porridge

You can find out more information on preparing foods safely for babies here! (opens in new tab)

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Apple and Peanut Butter Oats

Banana and Almond Oats

Strawberries and Cream Oats                             

Mixed Berry Oats

 Carrot Cake Oats