There are numerous variations of overnight oats available online…and since I didn’t want to feel left out, I decided to share my own basic recipe. For those of you that have never had overnight oats – you are missing out. The idea is to whip up a bowl of oats before bed, allow them to soak up the liquid overnight, and breakfast is ready to go when you wake up. It’s a super easy and healthy grab-and-go breakfast option…and taste fabulous!

I highly recommend using a full-fat Greek yogurt in this recipe. It makes the oats super creamy and yummy…but if full-fat yogurt isn’t your thing, then nonfat Greek yogurt works as well.

How To Be Prepared To Eat Healthy

This recipe is one of my favorite examples of being prepared to eat healthily. One of the basic (somewhat annoying) facts of living a healthy lifestyle is you have to be prepared and organized, especially if you are working toward weight loss goals. I get it – it’s annoying. Thinking about what you are going to make for dinner isn’t the most glorious way to pass the time…but it’s worth it.

I am far from a model child for organization – you should see my laundry pile. It’s something I am constantly working on, but here are a few things I have found over the years that help me stay on track.

Plan a Menu

This is huge for me. I spend probably an hour a week planning a menu and putting together a grocery list. It saves me money, and I don’t have to brainstorm at the last minute about what to serve for dinner. I am also big on leftovers, so I plan for dinner leftovers a couple of times a week.

Weekly Breakfast, Lunch, and Snacks

I tend to be a creature of habit, so I plan on eating the same breakfast, lunch, and snacks for an entire week (I always mix up my dinners). Eating this way makes my grocery shopping easy – I know exactly what to buy, and it makes preparing for the week so much easier. Plus, it doesn’t leave me aimlessly staring in the fridge or the pantry at lunchtime, wondering what there is to eat.

Meal Prep

I was first introduced to weekly meal prep four years ago and honestly, I thought it was a little “extreme,” but I decided to give it a try, and have been doing it ever since. It really does make my life more balanced. I set aside one day a week to prep my meals. For example: If I know I am having a chicken salad for lunch that week. I will cook my chicken (remember, leftovers don’t bother me), chop my veggies, and make enough dressing to last me the week. That way, at lunchtime every day, all I have to do is dump my chicken and veggies over some lettuce and add dressing – so easy.

“Emergency” Food

I always have a few things on hand for those days that don’t go as planned, and yes, they do happen. I can always cook up some eggs and veggies, or grab an apple and a handful of almonds. I also keep a few prepared meals in the freezer, that are easy to heat up and enjoy.

The thing that makes overnight oats so much fun, is the topping options are endless. Please comment below and let me know what your favorite overnight oats toppings or mix-ins are.