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Everyone knows the importance of starting your day with a healthy breakfast: it boosts metabolism, improves energy levels and even contributes to weight loss.
Gabrielle Tafur, RD, dietitian based in Orlando, Florida, told Women’s Health that an average breakfast should contain at least 25 grams of protein to help you stay full throughout the morning. You should also aim to eat around 400-500 calories in your first meal of the day. “This amount allows for enough food to prevent unnecessary snacking or grazing throughout the day,” she explained.
There is no question as to whether or not we should be eating breakfast, but the obstacle that most of us face is trying to find time in our morning routines to prepare and eat a healthy meal.
The fastest and most convenient breakfasts are almost always the least healthy. Many people opt for a frozen breakfast sandwich or a protein bar to start their day, but these types of foods are not going to give you the 25 grams of protein that Tafur recommended. And, they're almost always too calorie-dense to constitute a healthy meal.
However, there is one breakfast you can make each day that is high in protein, fiber and other beneficial nutrients - and only takes five minutes to prepare: overnight oats.
Overnight oats are different from regular oatmeal because instead of cooking them just before you're ready to eat, you let them soak in liquid overnight to soften them without any cooking required.
This process of preparing oats is better for your health because it keeps more nutrients in the food, and brings in extra vitamins and nutrients from the liquid you use. The most common liquids to use for overnight oats are milk, Greek yogurt, almond milk or coconut milk.
Our favorite way to prepare overnight oats is a simple recipe that only requires five ingredients: oats, milk, yogurt, an apple and cinnamon.
This easy way of making apple cinnamon overnight oats is delicious, plus full of protein, fiber, calcium, vitamin D and other nutrients. Plus, you can easily add even more protein and fiber by adding some optional chia seeds to the recipe.
How To make 5-Ingredient Apple Cinnamon Overnight Oats
You won't believe how simple this overnight oats recipe is. It takes no more than five minutes, and all you have to do is gather all of the ingredients, mix them together and refrigerate the mixture overnight.
Ingredients
- 1/2 cup of oats
- 1/2 cup of milk
- 1/4 cup of plain yogurt
- 1/2 cup of chopped apple
- 1/8 teaspoon of ground cinnamon
