Overnight oats recipes for weight loss

What you eat for breakfast sets the tone for the rest of the day. Eat a sugary or highly processed breakfast and your blood sugar and insulin will spike. This can cause more hunger, carb cravings … and fat storage. This is the last thing you want it you’re trying to lose weight! The best breakfast for weight loss includes protein, fiber, fat, and a healthy carb. This combo will keep you feeling full and will avoid blood sugar and insulin spikes and drops. Hello overnight oats! Overnight oats can be a great change from the typical egg breakfast. The trick will be what you add to the oats and of course, your portion size. Read on to get my top 10 overnight oats recipes for weight loss.

How overnight oats can help you lose weight

You’re probably thinking how can a high carb breakfast like oatmeal help you lose weight? If you’re envisioning a big bowl of oatmeal loaded with brown sugar and raisins, you’re correct … it won’t help you. The secret is to eat a moderate portion of oats and balance it out WITH added protein, fat, and fiber.

So how can overnight oats help you lose weight?

• Overnight oats contain a prebiotic fiber called resistant starch. Your body doesn’t digest this fiber and it passes through your digestive system to your gut. Here it’s fermented by the bacteria in your gut and helps to promote a healthy gut microbiome. Studies are linking the type and diversity of our gut bacteria to our overall health, including weight. Raw oats has 28 X more resistant starch as compared to cooked oatmeal.
• Is a great base to add in healthy ingredients that may aid in weight loss
• Keeps you feeling full longer, so you can avoid those vending machine raids
• Helps you avoid not-so-healthy breakfast choices on the run … like that 500 calorie muffin in the local coffee shop. Pop the oats in the fridge the night before and they’re ready for you in the morning.

Best ingredients to add to your overnight oats

What you add to your overnight oats, as well as the portion size, will make or break it as a weight loss breakfast. Studies have shown that adding protein, fat and fiber to breakfast can help promote weight loss.

• Protein and Fat:
  -Nuts and seeds  (and nut butter and seed butter)  provide heart healthy fats, protein, vitamins and minerals and may help decrease risk of heart disease and diabetes. They also aid in weight control. The protein and fat keep you feeling full longer and blunts the rise of glucose and insulin. Our protein needs are also higher when we are cutting calories in attempts of losing weight.
  -Protein powder. Add your favorite plain or flavored protein powder to keep you feeling full longer.
  -Greek yogurt, 2%
• Fiber
  -Chia/hemp or ground flaxseeds help to keep you feeling full longer and slow the rise and fall of blood sugar and insulin. Studies have also shown that higher fiber diets are associated with weight loss. Fruits such as berries also provide fiber.
• Antioxidants, vitamins, minerals
  -Antioxidant rich fruit such as pomegranate seeds and berries. Studies have shown that blueberries and raspberries improve insulin resistance, which may aid in weight loss.
  – Cacao powder or nibs.
• Other: Cinnamon. Not only does this add flavor, but it may aid in blood sugar management. Personally, I find it takes away the need to add a sweetener.

8 overnight oats recipes for weight loss

My nutrition intern, Catherine Scott Fischer, did recipe round-up and came up 8 recipes with 350 calories and 37 grams of carbs or less. Some of them contain as much as 26 grams of protein. You may also want to   read my previous blog post on How to Make Overnight Oats.

1. Coco Bliss Overnight Oats: This recipe from Catherine Scott Fischer will definitely keep you feeling full and satisfied until lunch! The chia seeds and rolled oats give it a great boost of fiber and the peanut butter provides a good source of fat that helps keep you fuller for longer.
   Ingredients:
   1 tbsp chia seeds
   1 tbsp unsweetened shredded coconut
   1 packet (2 gm) of Stevia (or any low-carb sweetener such as monk-fruit)
   1/2 cup of unsweetened almond milk (or any dairy-free milk)
   1 tbsp of creamy peanut butter
   1/3 cup of rolled oats
   Directions:
   -Pour milk of choice in mason jar, bowl or Tupperware.
   -Add chia seeds and stir.
   -Add shredded coconut and stevia and rolled oats and stir.
   -Add peanut butter, making sure it is well incorporated.
   -Pop it into refrigerator overnight.
   -Take it out of fridge and dig in!
   Calories: 330, Fat: 22 gm,  Carbs: 24.3 gm, Fiber: 10.1 gm, Protein: 10.8 gm
2. Sugar Cookie Overnight Protein Oatmeal : by wellplated.com Are you a dessert for breakfast kind of person? This recipe tastes like a cookie out of a jar. The greek yogurt not only makes it that much richer and creamier but is a great source of protein in addition to the protein powder! Note: 1/3 cup of rolled oats instead of 1/2 cup.
   Calories: 230, Fat: 3 gm,  Carbs: 35 gm, Fiber: 4 gm, Protein: 26 gm (nutrition calculated by Catherine Scott Fischer)
3. Blueberry Muffin Oatmeal: This recipe is adapted from the baked oats queen – itstaylermarie.com! It’s simple and it’s a lower calorie option for those who are not that hungry in the morning and want a smaller meal.
   Recipe adapted from: Blueberry Muffin Oatmeal
   Ingredients:
   1/3 small-medium sized banana mashed
   1/4 cup blueberries
   1 tsp of cinnamon
   1/2 cup of unsweetened almond milk (or any milk of your choice)
   1 tbsp of chia seeds
   1/3 cup of rolled oats
   Directions:
   -Pour milk of choice in mason jar, bowl or Tupperware.
   -Add chia seeds and cinnamon and stir.
   -Add mashed banana and rolled oats and stir.
   -Put it in refrigerator overnight.
   -Take it out and top it off with blueberries
   Calories: 210, Fat: 7.2 gm,  Carbs: 34 gm, Fiber: 11.3 gm, Protein: 6.6 gm (nutrition calculated by Catherine Scott Fischer)
4. Almond Joy Overnight Oats: by lifemadesweeter.com Had to include a creamy chocolatey recipe because who doesn’t love chocolate? It’s perfectly paired with slivered almonds on top giving it that perfect crunch to complement the smooth base.
   Calories: 298, Fat: 12 gm,  Carbs: 35 gm, Fiber: 10 gm, Protein: 9 gm
5. Carrot Cake Baked Oats: by itstaylermarie.com.  Carrot cake in general is one of my favorite desserts, but carrot cake for breakfast!? Yes please! The addition of carrots is a great way to incorporate some vegetables in your breakfast. Not to mention it is a great source of vitamin A which is a powerful anti-inflammatory antioxidant that aids in the proper function of our skin, vision, lungs, and immune system.
   Ingredients:
   1/3 small-medium sized banana mashed
   1/3 cup grated carrot
   1 1/2 tbsp walnuts
   1/4 tsp ground nutmeg
   1 tsp cinnamon
   1/2 cup unsweetened almond milk (or any milk of your choice)
   1 tbsp chia seeds
   Directions:
   -Pour milk of choice in mason jar, bowl or Tupperware.
   -Add chia seeds, cinnamon, ground nutmeg and stir.
   -Add mashed banana, grated carrots, rolled oats and stir.
   -Put it in refrigerator overnight.
   -Take it out and top it off with walnuts.
   Calories: 250, Fat: 11.9 gm,  Carbs: 31.8 gm, Fiber: 11.1 gm, Protein: 8.5 gm
   
6. Overnight Quinoa Oats: by nutritioninthekitch.com When we think of overnight oats we think of rolled oats, steel cut oats, etc. Yet, this recipe contains an ingredient you wouldn’t think belongs in overnight oats but makes a great nutritious addition. Oats and quinoa make for a perfect duo, wait till you try!
   Recipe from (omit the sliced peaches and either raspberries or blueberries): 
   Calories: 254, Fat: 6.8 gm,  Carbs: 34 gm, Fiber: 9 gm, Protein: 15.8 gm (nutrition calculated by Catherine Scott Fischer)
7. Creamy Orange Overnight Oats: by nutritionstarringyou.com Who doesn’t love a cup of freshly squeezed orange juice to kickstart your morning? The addition of oranges in this recipe adds the perfect touch of sweetness and flavorful burst to the smooth greek yogurt base. Not only will this creamy creation give you a boost of vitamin C, it is also packed with 24 gm of protein!
   Calories: 290, Fat: 6 gm,  Carbs: 37 gm, Fiber: 7 gm, Protein: 24 gm
8. Gingerbread Pumpkin Vegan Overnight Oat Parfait by ohsheglows.com. Spices are nutritional powerhouses and are a great addition to any meal as they add so much flavor! This recipe incorporates a nice blend of spices and is so flavorful.
   Note: Take out blackstrap molasses & maple syrup and replace with stevia or other low-carb sweetener
   Calories: 241, Fat: 9.7 gm,  Carbs: 35 gm, Fiber: 12.3 gm, Protein: 8.6 gm (nutrition calculated by Catherine Scott Fischer) 

   I’d like to thank Catherine Scott Fischer, nutrition student, for doing this recipe round-up!

   What are your favorite combo’s for overnight oats?