Overnight oats are the perfect budget-friendly breakfast for cash-strapped college students
College student or not, everyone can use a healthy, cost-conscious, easy-to-prepare breakfast. The fact you can make this the night before and eat it out of the fridge is especially nice for the student running late to a lecture or the busy family that doesn’t have time to make breakfast in the morning.
This recipe is a base recipe for overnight oats. As you become more comfortable cooking, experiment with the additions to make different flavors, or adjust the recipe to achieve your ideal consistency. It’s as simple as measuring ingredients, stirring to combine and letting sit overnight in the refrigerator.
While this recipe adds bananas and blueberries before serving, you can replace that with any combination of fruits, nuts or seeds you have on hand.
Why use chia seeds?
Chia seeds pack a nutritional punch, and as long as you don’t overdo it, they don’t have an overwhelming taste. According to the Mayo Clinic, chia seeds “are high in omega-3 fatty acids and fiber” and “can help with weight loss.”
High-fiber diets help normalize and maintain bowel health, lowers cholesterol and aids in achieving a healthy weight.
One serving of dried chia seeds is about 2.5 tablespoons, according to the Mayo Clinic, and contains 10 grams of fiber and 8 grams of heart-healthy fats.
Chia seeds’ mild taste makes them an easy addition into almost any dish. They’re wonderful in overnight oats, but you could also sprinkle them into salad or cereal, incorporate them into bread dough, or add them into smoothies.
This story was originally published September 13, 2022 at 7:43 AM with the headline "Overnight oats are the perfect budget-friendly breakfast for cash-strapped college students."
