Do you ever get tired of the same old breakfast? How many days a week can you eat granola, yogurt, bacon and eggs, bagels and cream cheese, toast and peanut butter? I desperately needed a change. PINTEREST…help!!! Overnight refrigerator oatmeal I had never heard of until this week. With Mason jars at hand (found here in Merida) I set out to try something different. Below are three variations… use your imagination to come up with others…

Overnight Refrigerator Oatmeal

THE BASIC PROCEDURE

Step 1. Assemble these ingredients & supplies:

• old fashioned rolled oats (not instant, quick, or steel-cut)
• Greek yogurt (regular yogurt is thinner; if you use it, you’ll need to reduce the amount of milk
• milk (I used coconut, but any kind will work)
• chia seeds;
• half pint (1 cup) mason jars,

Step 2. Add oats, milk, yogurt, and chia seeds to jar, along with desired sweeteners or flavors (see options below).

Step 3. Put a lid on the jar and shake to combine. I use white plastic jar lids sized to fit canning jars–they last longer than the metal tops and rims that come with the jars, and they are easier to screw on.

Step 4. Add fruit and stir gently until combined.

Step 5. Place in fridge overnight and up to 2 days; maybe longer depending on the type and ripeness of the fruit. The non-banana varieties have been good after 4 days for me.

VARIATIONS

Blueberry Maple Oatmeal

Ingredients

• 1/4 cup uncooked old fashioned rolled oats
• 1/3 cup skim milk
• 1/4 cup low-fat Greek yogurt
• 1-1/2 teaspoons dried chia seeds
• 2 teaspoons maple syrup (more or less to taste)
• 1/4 cup blueberries (or enough to fill jar)

Directions

In a half pint (1 cup) jar, add oats, milk, yogurt, chia seeds, and maple syrup. Put lid on jar and shake until well combined. Remove lid, add blueberries and stir until mixed throughout. Return lid to jar and refrigerate overnight or up to 2 days. Eat chilled.

Banana Peanut Butter Oatmeal

 Ingredients

• 1/4 cup uncooked old fashioned rolled oats
• 1/3 cup skim milk
• 1/4 cup low-fat Greek yogurt
• 1-1/2 teaspoons dried chia seeds
• 1 tablespoon peanut butter (may substitute PB2 powdered peanut butter)
• 1 teaspoon honey, optional (or substitute any preferred sweetener)
• 1/4 cup diced ripe banana, or enough to fill jar (approx. half of a small banana)

Directions

In a half pint (1 cup) jar, add oats, milk, yogurt, chia seeds, peanut butter (or PB2), and honey. Put lid on jar and shake until well combined. Remove lid, add bananas and stir until mixed throughout. Return lid to jar and refrigerate overnight or up to 2 days. Eat chilled.

Raspberry Vanilla Oatmeal

Ingredients

• 1/4 cup uncooked old fashioned rolled oats
• 1/3 cup skim milk
• 1/4 cup low-fat Greek yogurt
• 1-1/2 teaspoons dried chia seeds
• 1/4 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1 tablespoon raspberry jam, preserves, or spread
• 1/4 to 1/3 cup raspberries (cut each berry in half), or enough to fill jar

Directions

In a half pint (1 cup) jar, add oats, milk, yogurt, chia seeds, vanilla, and raspberry jam. Put lid on jar and shake until well combined. Remove lid, add raspberries and stir until mixed throughout. Return lid to jar and refrigerate overnight or as long as 2-3 days. Eat chilled. 

FYI – I found a set of three  1 cup Mason Jars here for 149 pesos…