Jumpstart your mornings with healthy overnight oats

Whether you're hustling kids out the door, trying to hit the gym before work, or darting out to appointments, we've all felt the pressure of mornings.

A recent survey by Centrum found that while 45 per cent of Canadians say they feel calm when going through their morning routine, four in five still wish they could add one more thing — such as exercise, leisure time or time with their family.

“Preparing your breakfast the night before is a great way to give yourself more time in the morning for working out, meditation or just getting in some extra sleep,” says Theresa Albert, a nutrition expert. “One of my favourite ways to do this is overnight oats, which packs vitamins and fibre in a small, portable package that's easy to whip up the night before. Make an oats concoction in a Mason jar and store in your fridge overnight; then simply grab the jar along with a multivitamin on your way out the door.”

Oats are high in a fibre called beta glucan that has been shown in some cases to reduce cholesterol and blood sugar. With the addition of a multivitamin (which contains Vitamin B to help in energy metabolism and Vitamin A to help support immune function) and high-protein foods like Greek yogurt or protein powder, this breakfast is an easy way to get your morning started.

Overnight Oats

Prep time: 5 minutes

Serves: 4

Ingredients:

• 1 cup “quick” or 1 minute oats

• 2 cups Greek yogurt

• 1 tbsp nut butter

• 1 tbsp protein powder (try egg protein powder or whey)

• 1 mashed banana

• 1 cup milk or almond milk

• 1 tbsp cinnamon

Directions:

1. Mix all ingredients in a large Mason jar and let sit in the fridge overnight. Serve cold the next day or warm in the microwave for 30 seconds. Top with more cinnamon, to taste.