Overnight oats

Supermarket cereals often contain lots of added sugars, preservatives and are usually not very nutritious, though they are convenient and easy. I get it, when you are trying to get everybody out the door in the morning, it's the easiest option. What I like to do on those days is have overnight oats for breakfast, just as easy as cereal but much more nutritious. 

Oats themselves are extremely rich in magnesium and zinc, and are a gluten free grain. Their gluten status is often questioned, but the truth with oats is that they are a gluten free grain but are often processed in the same factories as gluten grains and become contaminated. If you are a coeliac or gluten intolerant look for certified gluten free oats that have not been contaminated. 

Ingredients: 

• Rolled oats- I use ¾ C for Paige and I 

• Dash apple cider vinegar 

• Milk of choice

• Yoghurt of choice 

• Banana 

• Blueberries

Optional toppings 

• 1 tsp chia seeds

• 1 tsp hemp seeds

• 1 tsp goji berries

Method

• Place the oats and seeds into a bowl with a dash of apple cider vinegar. Cover with water and a tea towel and leave overnight on the bench. In the morning place the content of the bowl into a wire strainer and rinse under clean water. Give it a good shake to remove the excess water.

• Place the oats back into the bowl with some milk, top with yoghurt, banana, blueberries or any other fruit of choice, and I also like to drizzle some honey on mine. Serve, it’s as easy as that.  

The reason we soak the oats with apple cider vinegar is to remove the phytic acid. This is an anti nutrient that inhibits nutrient absorption, so when we consume nuts, seeds, grains and beans that have not been soaked and activated then we aren’t actually getting the full benefits from the food. 

The goji berries don't need to be soaked but I add just to soften them because otherwise they are too hard for Paige to eat. 

When you are cooking dinner at night it honestly takes 1 minute to prepare the oats and apple cider vinegar in a bowl, set a reminder on your phone if you think you might forget. Add whatever you want on top, I've also made it with sunflower seeds, flax seeds and almonds.