How To Make Healthy Overnight Protein Oats

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Making overnight oats has become one of my favorite go-to easy recipes for an easy healthy breakfast. I also like to make them ahead of time as part of my meal prep.

Oatmeal itself is incredibly versatile and tasty. Especially when you add the right complimentary flavors and ingredients! One of my favorite high protein oatmeal recipes has fresh baked sweet potato, peanut butter protein powder, and banana. And, despite being totally vegan, this plant-based dish is loaded with protein!

What type of oatmeal should I use for protein overnight oats? 

I prefer using quick oats for overnight oats, but you do have some other options as well.

1. Whole Oat Groats – These are not ideal for soaking and they require a long time to become soft without cooking. They have a hearty, chewy texture but they are not the best option for overnight oats.

2. Steel Cut / Irish Oats – Many people like steel cut oats, but it is not my favorite option for overnight protein oats. They take a longer time to soak and become properly soft. Steel-cut oats are also known as Irish oats or coarse oatmeal.

3. Rolled / Old-fashion oats – These work well for soaking overnight, but they will take a bit longer than quick oats. You can have soft oatmeal in a relatively short period of time. Rolled oats are lightly processed oat groats.

4. Quick Oats – When I’m soaking oatmeal this is my top choice. Quick oats are also called quick-cooking oats because they are further processed than rolled oats in order to decrease cooking time. They become partially cooked by the steaming process before being rolled even thinner than old-fashioned oats. They take only minutes to cook and usually become soft and edible within 2 or 3 hours of soaking. 

What’s the best peanut butter protein powder for overnight oats? 

● Best Overall: PB Fit – This is what I used in my overnight protein oats.  I like this product because it has ⅓ the calories and 90% less fat than regular peanut butter. It also has 8g of protein and has a lovely texture and flavor. 

● Best Texture: Peanut Butter & Co. Peanut Powder – This healthy powder is pressed from real roasted peanuts. It also has  90% less fat than classic peanut butter. With 1.5 g fat per serving, it’s gluten free and vegan too. It’s got a subtle vanilla flavor with a touch of salt. It is slightly higher in sodium, salt, sugar, and carbs than others. 

● Most Balanced: PB2 Powdered Peanut Butter – This peanut butter protein powder is super tasty too. It does not taste artificially flavored. It has a great mix of sweet and salty , rich, and full.

How do I store my overnight protein oats? 

Oatmeal can become stale and re-harden when it is exposed to air. So, you’ll want to store it properly. Store your overnight oats in the fridge in an airtight container. If you have plastic containers with locking lids, these work really well. I like to eat mine up within a couple of days.

What to mix into protein overnight oats

There are so many options when it comes to what you can mix into your overnight oats. Here are some ideas:

• Fresh fruit in addition to the banana. Berries work really well.
• Sweet potato
• Almond or peanut butter
• Chia seeds or hemp seeds
• Cocoa powder
• Spirulina or other green powder
• Vanilla or almond extract for flavor
• Pumpkin or sunflower seeds
• Chopped almonds or walnuts

These oats are tasty, satisfying, and they’re even kid-friendly! Prep a bunch of containers in advance for the easiest week of breakfasts ever.

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