In an ideal world I’d wake up at 7:30AM, without an alarm of course, take my time getting ready while enjoying a hot cup of coffee, and sit down for breakfast before driving 10 minutes to the office. In reality, I wake up 5 AM, rush to get myself ready before the kids wake up, spend most of my time getting them ready, and grab my coffee to go before spending 1+ hours in the car for my commute.
Less than ideal, but I’ve had to learn how to accommodate. I set out everyone’s clothes the night before, wake up earlier than I need to in order to have a little coffee time or workout time to myself before the kids wake up, purchased stock in Suave dry shampoo, and cook make ahead oatmeal for the work week on Sunday to enjoy at my desk when I get into work each morning.
Having breakfast at home just isn’t realistic and I like starting my work day with a bowl of hot oatmeal while answering e-mails. Obviously you can just buy packets of instant oatmeal, but I like make ahead oatmeal because you control what you put into it! I use Quaker Old Fashioned Oats and can mix up my flavors and toppings each day/week.
I follow the cooking instructions on the tub of oatmeal, cooking my oats on the stove top in water with a pinch of salt. Once they are fully cooked, I divide them evenly into Ziploc containers and allow them to cool on the counter before adding my toppings.
Next, I add 1 serving of a nut butter. Justin’s almond butter and Peanut Butter Co. peanut butter are my favorite. You don’t need nut butter, but I like the fat in the morning and it makes the oats really creamy.
Next I add 1/4 cup of milk (cow, almond, cashew, or soy milk). You could place your toppings in separate containers and add after you reheat your oats, but I find that adding everything during meal prep is just easier! Less containers, less mess, and they reheat just fine! At this point, I put the lids on my containers and refrigerate them until I’m ready to eat.
In the office, or at home, I microwave my container of oatmeal for 2 minutes and then top with a fruit of choice. This week I topped my oatmeal with banana, but I also love frozen berries.
Make ahead oatmeal is well worth your time and will definitely make your mornings easier! There’s always instant oatmeal, but I say give old fashioned oats a try!
