Once again I must apologise for the lack of fancy photos and I know that this recipe could really do with some arty photography to make it look far prettier than it is, but as I explained, taking photos on crutches and being stuck upstairs does not equate to great photo opportunities, in fact these photos were taken on my bedroom windowsill whilst I sat on the bed! However I just wanted to get this recipe for Overnight Chia Oats onto the blog as it is one that Hubby is very kindly making for me everyday for my breakfast, which I appreciate greatly.

One of the hardest things being pretty much bed bound is weight gain, lack of exercise, boredom and throw into the mix Christmas, New Year, our Wedding Anniversary and my Birthday, you just have too many reasons to overeat and to eat completely the wrong things. With this is mind and knowing that I had no way of exercising off any excess I just didn’t drink and really watched what I ate. That said I did indulge a little, but only on the special occasions, kept to good portions sizes and didn’t eat for the sake of eating.

As you may know if you read my blog regularly I hate faddy diets, its just common sense, eat regularly, eat good nutritious food, its really that simple and now what I have been banging on about for years is now in the press, on cookery shows and everyone is bringing out a new cookery book saying what I have been saying for years (yes, I have just fallen off my soapbox with utter exasperation)!

So rant over, on to the recipe… This is one of those recipes that is never going to look pretty, lets face it, anything that remotely looks like frog spawn is never going to photograph well, but we just have to push that to one side and face the fact that a healthy, filling start to our day is far more important than what it looks like. Chia seeds are among the healthiest foods on the planet, they are loaded with nutrients that can have important benefits for your body and brain, what better way to start your day.

The best thing about this recipe is that you can prepare it in advance, in a sealed jar it will last up to three days in the fridge and is easily portable if you are in a hurry and need to take it to work. I also think that it would make a great dessert, or even placed in a child’s/adults lunchbox in place of the usual pot/tube of yoghurt would make a fantastic nutrient packed treat.

With everything, make this recipe your own. Add any yoghurt, nut milk, fruit, nut butters, seeds, etc that take your fancy, keep it interesting and varied and enjoy an oomph to the start of your day.

Buon appetito

overnight chia oats

Serves 1

3 tablespoons of oats
4 tablespoons of almond milk (or milk of choice)
2 tablespoons of coconut yoghurt (I use any yoghurt that you fancy)
2 teaspoons of chia seeds

Serve with a mixture of the following :-
banana, apple, berries etc
a tablespoon of a nut butter of choice
a handful of cacao nibs, goji berries or raisins
nuts or seeds
granola
a drizzling of raw honey or maple syrup
Just make it your own really and top with what ever you have or that takes your fancy.

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Simply place the oats, chia seeds, almond milk and coconut yoghurt into a jar and stir them together.

Then place the lid on the jar and store it in the fridge overnight, or for at least four hours.

Once it’s ready to eat add your toppings and enjoy!

This should last about two to three days in the fridge if it’s kept in an air-tight container.

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