It’s cold!! So eat something warm with that morning cup of coffee.

Here are 3 healthy and yummy oatmeal recipes that will warm you up and start your day right, and the best part is, they can be prepared the night before!

Overnight Oatmeal

Serves: 4

A bowl of creamy steel-cut oatmeal is a healthy way to start the day, the long cooking time makes these oats hard to execute on a weekday morning. Here, the slow cooker does all the work while you’re sleeping.

Ingredients

Unsalted butter (or pan spray)8 1/2 cups water
2 cups steel-cut oats
1/4 cup packed light brown sugar
1/2 teaspoon fine salt
1/2 cup chopped apricots
1/2 cup craisins

Directions

1. Before bed, coat the inside of the cooker with butter to keep the oatmeal from sticking

2. Add the oats, water, apricots, Craisins (or your choice of dried fruit), and brown sugar(optional) and stir

3. Set slow cooker to low for 8 hours

4. Top oats with dried fruit, nuts, or maple syrup

Overnight Oats in a Jar

Serves: 1
A hearty healthy breakfast overnight oats in a jar (no cooking required)!

Ingredients

1/2 cup quick oats
1 cup unsweetened almond milk, skim milk or soy milk
1/2 medium banana, sliced
1/2 cup berries of your choice
2T Sugar or your favorite sweetener
1 T cinnamon

Directions

1. Put all the ingredient in a jar, shake, cover and refrigerate overnight

2. In the morning add your favorite crunchy toppings such as nuts, granola

Pumpkin Spice Overnight Oats

Serves: 2 servings

Ingredients

1 cup rolled oats
1 cup International Delight Pumpkin Spice Iced Coffee
1 tablespoon maple syrup
1/2 teaspoon each cinnamon and nutmeg
¼ cup pure pumpkin purée
Pinch of salt

Directions

1. Combine all of the ingredients and whisk until smooth

2. Divide into two jars or containers, cover, and let sit in the refrigerator for at least 5 hours, or overnight

3. Serve straight from the fridge, or serve warmed

Source: Chef Andrea “Drey” Benson, McConnell Heart Health Center