If this picture of my assistant Erin does not get you excited, I don't know what will! Welcome to the start of December and the very sketchy time between holidays. Why do I call it sketchy? Because, from Thanksgiving to the new year can add around 7-10 pounds to your waist line. Hence, why I am posting my lofty health goals in between the holiday and maintaining fitting into my pants. Yes, I downloaded a 30-day Buns, Guns and Abs Challenge calender and also vow to eat healthier than healthy during this time. There is nothing better than starting off the day with a warm, filling, and healthy breakfast. Make sure to put these ingredients on your grocery list and enjoy the ease of making breakfast the whole week long.
All you need is a slow-cooker, the ingredients above and 8 hours of night. Place 2 cups of steel cut oats into a slow-cooker set on low. This recipe is for steel cut oats only. The other types of oatmeal will not work in this recipe.
Mix in 8 cups of unsweetened vanilla almond milk. Feel free to use skim or 1% milk or water.
This is an important step because this also helps you stay fitting into your pants over the holidays. PROTEIN! Protein is so important to help you stay full longer and to maintain the lean muscle mass that makes your metabolism work like a fire-burning furnace. Place 4 scoops of a low-sugar whey protein powder (I recommend using plain or vanilla flavored).
This is the next important step in this recipe that makes this the perfect breakfast...CHIA! I believe chia is the superfood EVERYONE should be eating EVERYDAY! For this recipe, place 6 tablespoons of chia into the hot tub.
I like to add dried fruit to the hot tub, so in this recipe I use 1 cup of fruit bits. This is a nice mixture of fruit: apples, peaches, raisins (regular and golden-which are my favorite) and craisins. If you are not a fan of dried fruit, you can add fresh or frozen. If you use frozen fruit, microwave it for about 60 seconds and it will create a warm syrup with the fruit.
Mix it all together and slide the lid on. This is when I start to heat up my water for my sleepy time tea. But first....I cannot forget my favorite part.
My favorite addition to the oatmeal is candied pecans (or any nut you like). Place 1 teaspoon of brown sugar in a sauce pan over medium heat.
Place 1/2 cup of pecan pieces into the pan and mix untill the brown sugar melts and starts to carmelize on the pecans. This will take about 5-7 minutes. You will notice the brown sugar melting and coating the nuts.
Hellooooo, crunchy and sweet yumminess. Let cool in a bowl overnight next to the oatmeal.
When you unwillingly get out of bed the next morning, this will be waiting for you (well not this exact dish unless elves assemble it for you, which is totally possible). The oatmeal will be cooked perfectly and top it off with a teaspoon of your candied pecans. Perfect way to start the day! This makes a ton of oatmeal, so just take the insert out of your slow-cooker and place the oatmeal in the refrigerator. Scoop out a serving each morning and warm in the microwave for 1 minute. It is the healthy breakfast recipe that keeps on giving all week long!
Overnight Oatmeal
8- 1 cup servings
2 cups steel cut oats
8 cups unsweetened almond milk
4 scoops low-sugar whey protein powder
6 tablespoons chia seed
1 cup dried fruit
Place all ingredients into slow-cooker and cook on low for 8 hours.
~Crazy (about overnight oatmeal)
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