If you, like me, are a creature of habit – and often find yourself reaching for the same breakfast every morning – then here’s some reassuring news.
According to nutritionist Dr Hazel Wallace, eating the exact same breakfast each day might actually be one of the simplest ways to make healthy eating easier.
In a recent Instagram reel, Wallace shared that she’s eaten overnight oats every day for the past six years – and that she’d ‘happily eat it again for another six’.
Not only are overnight oats super convenient – they ‘travel well, stay fresh, and help you eat well, even on your busiest days,’ she says. They’re also healthy and offer a fibre-rich, high-protein, and slow-release energy breakfast.
Overnight oats, she adds, are ‘one of the easiest, most reliable, prep-ahead breakfasts that you can make’.
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And rather than eating the same bowl on repeat, she rotates between flavour combinations to keep things interesting. Her favourites? Carrot cake, tiramisu, and apple crumble.
Overnight oats recipe by Dr Hazel WallaceBase (serves 1):Carrot Cake
Add ½ grated carrot, 3 chopped walnuts, 1 chopped date (or raisins), and ½ tsp cinnamon to the base ingredients.
Tiramisu
Add 50ml strong coffee (reduce milk volume by 50ml in base) and 1 tbsp cocoa powder to the base ingredients.
Apple crumble
Add ½ tsp cinnamon to the base ingredients.
To make the stewed apple topping: chop 1 apple and add to a small pan with a splash of water and a pinch of cinnamon. Cook over a medium heat for 8-10 minutes until soft. Stir through 1 tsp maple syrup.
Method
For each flavour, mix the base ingredients with the flavour additions, stir well, and refrigerate overnight (or for at least 4 hours). Top with yoghurt or desired toppings before serving.
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