Making a healthy breakfast doesn’t have to be hard! This very creamy, satisfying, and healthy bowl of oatmeal makes a great first meal of the day and will energize you for hours. I have also listed a few of my favorite tips on how to make yummy and creamy oatmeal that will have you jumping out of bed.

A large bowl of chocolate overnight oats topped with peanut butter, banana slices, fresh raspberries and a sprinkle of hemp seeds.
Chocolate and raspberry topped Oatmeal Bowl

What kind of Oats should I use for Overnight Oatmeal?

A large bowl of healthy homemade gluten-free oatmeal on a stone table. There is also a measuring cup with raw rolled oats on the side
Gluten-Free Rolled oats

There are a few different kinds of oatmeal options out there. The main difference is due to how much the oat groats have been processed, which result in different texture and cooking time.

1. Steel Cut oats

Processed the least, takes the longest to cook

2. Rolled Oats (Old-Fashioned)

Steamed to softened, pressed to flatten

3. Instant or quick Oats

The most processed kind which takes the shortest time to cook. This is the kind you find in the microwave oatmeal packs.

My personal favorite to make healthy oatmeal with is rolled oats, aka old-fashioned oats for soaking overnight. I get the gluten-free version on amazon. They soak up the milk and spices overnight so perfectly.

Unlike rolled oats, steel-cut oatmeal will still need to be cooked on the stove or in the microwave even after soaking all night. On the other hand, instant oats will just get soggy and turn into baby food.

How is overnight oats different from regular oatmeal?

On a table there is a bowl of nutritious oatmeal covered with a fried banana split in half, nut-butter, homemade raspberry jam, chocolate chips and shaved coconut. There is a cosy gray blanket wrapped around the breakfast bowl
Overnight Oats topped with caramelized banana and nut butter

It “cooks” overnight and is ready for you to eat in the morning

This means saving time! When I was working my 9-5 corporate job, the last thing I wanted to think about was to cook breakfast in the morning. You know that drill. Gym, shower, makeup, outfits, pack the bag bla bla the list goes on.

Having your breakfast ready in the fridge ready to grab-n-go is the most perfect, healthy and delicious solution!

What to soak the healthy oatmeal in?

Shuangy is holding a bowl of overnight oats topped with caramelized bananas, blueberries, nut butter, chia seeds, hemp seeds and walnuts.
Overnight Oats topped with caramelized banana, blueberry and nut butter

Traditionally, oatmeal is cooked in hot water or milk on the stove or in the microwave. But nowadays with so many alternative products available for all your dietary restrictions, you have no reason not to change it up every now and then.

The sky is the limit!

These are my favorite soaking agents:

“Old-Fashioned”: Full fat or reduced fat Milk

Make it dairy-free: Use nut milk such as almond, cashew and coconut

Make it nut-free: Use flax or oat milk

How to sweeten and spice up your healthy oatmeal

It all depending on personal preference when it comes to sweeteners and spices. But I do have a few tips and tricks to share with you when it comes to how I choose and shop my sweeteners and spices.

Maple Syrup: Find the one that only has one SINGLE ingredient… Maple Syrup!

Honey: Buy Local if you can. And again, choose the one that only has “Honey” on its ingredient list. (I mean what else can bees put in honey other than honey, right?)

On a breakfast table there is a bowl of creamy overnight oatmeal topped with half a caramelized banana. There is also half a banana still in its peel on the side of the bowl.
Top overnight oats with ripe or caramelized bananas

Ripe or caramelized bananas: This may be my favorite way to sweeten up a lot of my recipes, especially as oatmeal toppings.

Frozen or fresh berries: First, choose the ones in season, when you can. BUT, you don’t have to feel you must buy fresh ones if they don’t fit in your budget.

Nut Butter: Nut butters like cashews, peanuts, and almonds, naturally have a little bit of sweetness to them. Again, look for the ones with only one (or two) ingredients. Nuts (and maybe salt).

A large bowl of homemade and  nutritious chocolate oatmeal. The breakfast id topped with fresh raspberries, sliced bananas, peanut butter and hemp seeds.
Chocolate Oatmeal Bowl Topped With Raspberries, Bananas and Nut Butter

Okay, what about spice? Here are a few of my favorite go-to spices that I add to almost every bowl of oatmeal.

Cacao Powder. Does it count as a spice? Yes, chocolate is everything (check out this chocolate overnight oats recipe)

Oatmeal is like a blank canvas. Take advantage of it and be creative. You can add any of your favorite spices, superfood powders, protein powder and all kinds of different toppings.

Take the chance and change up your breakfast and make it your favorite meal of the day. And remember, the sky is the limit!

Why Nut Butter is the perfect addition to your healthy oatmeal

I love peanut butter. Anyone else?

Nonetheless, I don’t eat as much as I used to do. But that’s only because I have discovered my love for almond and cashew butter as well, which are obviously great substitutions for peanut butter.

The next great option is the ones with only salt added. I would really recommend trying to avoid nut butters with added sugar and/or palm oil. And in general, one of my rule of thumb when it comes to judging ingredient lists is ” Nothing I can’t pronounce”.

Here are a couple allergy friendly substitutions to choose as toppings for your healthy oatmeal breakfast:

Nuts allergy alternative: Try sunflower seeds butter. Trader Joe’s has a really yummy one, as well as Sunbutter.

Nuts and Seeds Free: However, if you can’t consume any of these, try some full-fat yogurt (I love Fage and Siggis) or coconut yogurt for a vegan option.

I hope these tips and ideas are helpful for you when it comes to building a healthy breakfast bowl of overnight oats. Now scroll down to check out the full recipe for this yummy healthy oatmeal.

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A healthy breakfast bowl with oatmeal, fried bananas, homemade raspberry jam, cashew butter, chocolate chips and coconut flakes.
How to make healthy oatmeal | Making a healthy breakfast doesn’t have to be hard! In this step by step oatmeal guide, I’ll show you how to make the most creamy, satisfying and healthy oatmeal bowl for breakfast that will energize your day. It is vegan, gluten free, dairy free and super easy to make. | Shuangy’s Kitchen Sink #shuangyskitchensink #oatmeal #healthybreakfast #vegan #glutenfree #veganbreakfast

Get the recipe:Peanut Butter Banana Overnight Oats {with Chia Seeds}

This Peanut Butter Banana Overnight Oats is thick, creamy, delicious and filling. It is easy to come together in just 5 minutes.
5 stars (2 reviews)
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Ingredients

Overnight Oats

  • 1/2 cup GF rolled oats
  • 1 cup milk of choice

Toppings

  • 1 banana
  • 1 tbsp peanut butter
  • 1 tbsp chia jam

Instructions 

  • In a mason jar, combine rolled oats and milk of your choice. Cover and refrigerate over night
  • In the morning, pour the soaked oats into a bowl. Leave it cold or heat it up
  • Cut a banana lengthwise and caramelize, or if preferred raw, simply cut it into rings
  • Top the overnight oats with banana, a scoop of peanut butter and any additional toppings you prefer
  • ENJOY this healthy and creamy breakfast

Notes

  1. If you want to add spices such as cinnamon to your oats, do so in step 1
  2. You can find the instructions on how to caramelize banana on my Instagram story highlights "meal prep"
Serving: 1g, Calories: 592kcal, Carbohydrates: 89g, Protein: 21g, Fat: 19g, Saturated Fat: 5g, Polyunsaturated Fat: 12g, Cholesterol: 20mg, Sodium: 216mg, Fiber: 12g, Sugar: 26g

The Nutrition Facts above are specific to the ingredients I chose to use for this recipe, which may vary.

a bowl of overnight oats topped with fruits, chocolate, coconut shavings and berries.