This post is in partnership with Quaker Oats. All opinions and thoughts are my own! Thank you to the brands that make Chickpea in The City possible.
I remember when I got to college and I ate oatmeal like it was going out of style. To give you an idea, my mom pre-portioned out servings of oatmeal into baggies to take with me to my dorm my freshman year so that all I had to do was dump them out into a bowl, mix them with hot water or milk and add my toppings of choice for a healthy breakfast. It was great having extra time in the morning to make up my breakfast but when my classes began earlier every semester and I started having a 6am hosting job, I needed something that was already made for me in the morning that I could just take out of the fridge and bring with me on the way to work. Convenience is key!
The issue with this was finding something with ingredients I loved, that tasted great and wasn’t always a granola bar. When I discovered the possibility of overnight oats, however, I was not only surprised but completely infatuated. I’d make oats the night before so that come my 5am wake-up call to go host, I could just grab a mason jar out of the fridge with a spoon and be good to go.
What I loved then about overnight oats and still love now was the ability to have a hearty breakfast that helped me feel full throughout the morning and I always had the option of adding in my own flavors. The issue? Cleaning a million mason jars, knowing how much liquid to put in each time and deciding on the flavors to add.
But then… Quaker Overnight Oats happened this summer. No more struggles of using measuring cups to pre-portion my milk into my mason jars and figuring out what ingredients to use. These overnight oats cups are so much more convenient and ideal for any college student or 9-5 busy bee.
Am I dreaming? Is this breakfast heaven?
If you’re like me and can’t decide on a flavor, these Quaker Overnight Oats come in four unique flavors including:
- Blueberry, Banana, and Vanilla Bliss flavor with other natural flavors
- Orchard Peach Pecan Perfection flavor with other natural flavors
- Raisin Walnut & Honey Heaven flavor with other natural flavors
- Toasted Coconut & Almond Crunch flavor with other natural flavors
While they come in different flavors, all four of them are made up of a blend of 100% whole grain oats (and other grains), quinoa, flaxseed, and other delicious ingredients such as toasted coconut (my dream). Oh and can we talk about the fact that they have no artificial flavors and no added colors? You guys know I love that in ANY breakfast product.
It’s as easy as steep, sleep and eat!
Literally though, all you have to do is follow the simple directions on the side of each cup of Overnight Oats. You fill the line in the inside with your favorite dairy or non-dairy milk (I prefer almond or cashew in mine!), stir it up, cover it, place it in your fridge overnight for at least 6 hours (*but no more than 24!*) and by morning, all of the flavors have blended together, soaked and are ready to be devoured. A hassle-free morning at your fingertips!
My favorite option is the Blueberry, Banana & Vanilla Bliss because of the blueberries nestled around the oats. To make them extra thick and creamy, after adding my desired milk to the line inside of the cup, I’ll add 2-4oz. of Greek yogurt to give the oats a thicker and creamier texture.
I’ve noticed that with a bit of dairy yogurt, overnight oats have this cold and hearty texture that is like having dessert for breakfast. In addition, when you take a spoonful, you get a little bit of the berries, a little Greek yogurt all rolled into one.
Look at those bluebs!
Before work, these definitely look better and are less of a hassle than a mason jar layered with random ingredients, wouldn’t you agree? They also make for a quick breakfast post-spinning or a high intensity interval class and when it’s #summertimechi and the last thing you want is a hot breakfast of oats but you also need something thicker and more filling than a smoothie, cold and hearty Overnight Oats are the way to go.
These new Overnight Oats from Quaker are slowly rolling out into stores across the country, and will be available nationally by August. Ah, so soon! But if you’re like me and can’t wait for breakfast, you can purchase any of the four flavors online through their website. #winning #straighttoyourdoor
Follow Quaker on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram to find out when the stores closest to you will start carrying them so we can be twins and eat overnight oats together 🙂
Cheers to hearty breakfasts, hassle-free mornings and an oat-filled summer!
