This post is sponsored by The Quaker Oats Company
It’s back-to-school season! Mazen’s preschool begins in just a few more weeks. We are both pumped – he misses it. With back-to-school comes busy mornings. Both Mazen and I love our breakfast time, so I try to get us up early enough to enjoy it. We don’t like to be rushed! That said, on school mornings I usually serve simple breakfasts that don’t take much time to cook. As much as I love whipped banana oatmeal, pancakes or French toast, we lean to quicker breakfasts when we have to get out the door on time. Here is a round up of some of my favorite quick and easy oatmeal breakfasts, all involving my favorite Quaker Old Fashioned Oats.
These were intended to be a snack solution, but they can make a great breakfast too! Best of all they are totally portable, so pair them with a banana and a yogurt and you’ve got breakfast on the go.
A blog world staple, overnight oats have to make the list! They are the ultimate easy, portable breakfast packed with whole grain oat goodness and protein from milk, yogurt and chia seeds. With no cooking involved, you can enjoy breakfast straight from the fridge. Make them in a jar and take them on your commute or to enjoy at work.
A twist on overnight oats all blended together. Put Quaker Old Fashioned Oats, milk, yogurt and flavors in your blender and allow to soak in the fridge. The next morning just blend them all together into a doughy smoothie. Mazen loves helping to make smoothies, so we’ve been eating them a lot.
This one requires a bit of prep the night before, but once it’s made you have an easy-to-heat-and-eat breakfast option. Make it in one big dish or in a mini muffin tin for little kid-friendly bites. Try the strawberry basil version too!
These were also designed as a snack, but crumbled over yogurt or paired with milk and a peach they’d make an easy breakfast option too. I try not to serve Mazen chocolate for breakfast often, but when it does sneak in he is pumped! Kids also love anything in finger-friendly ball form. : )
I always add a handful of raw Quaker Old Fashioned Oats to my smoothies – for a punch of complex carbs and for the nice texture and flavor they add. I need a smoothie with staying power.
And if you’re looking for something super special to surprise the kids with on the first day of school, why not a banana split!?!? Made with overnight oats, this guy is much lighter than it looks 😉
On the topic of eating sensibly for kids, Quaker is teaming up with Fuel Up to Play 60, the nation’s largest in-school wellness program, and former pro football player Emmitt Smith to encourage and inspire families to balance eating sensibly and getting active as they fuel up for back-to-school.
In celebration, they are giving fans a chance to win one of 1,000 back-to-school fuel packs, complete with Quaker products and a Fuel Up to Play 60 football. To enter, tweet your family’s favorite way to fuel up for back-to-school @Quaker using the hashtags #QuakerBTS and #sweepstakes through August 14. Good luck!
Thanks to The Quaker Oats Company for sponsoring this post. All opinions are my own.Â
Sam @ Grapefruit & Granola says
August 13, 2015 at 8:53 amLove oats for breakfast! Thanks for sharing some quick recipes because I never make them in the morning on weekdays. Too rushed! I want to start experimenting with overnight oats in the slow cooker but I think I might have to eliminate the milk for food safety issues. That’s a bummer because I lIke the added protein.
Margaret Ann @ MAK and Her Cheese says
August 13, 2015 at 9:47 amI’m reading this as I eat my big bowl of overnight oats! Complete with strawberries, blueberries, peach, banana, walnuts, raisins, and chocolate chips. I’m pretty sure I first got the idea of overnight oats from your blog years ago…so thanks for your oat inspiration!
Samantha @ThePlantedVegan says
August 13, 2015 at 10:22 amThat baked pumpkin oatmeal looks divine! Oatmeal is something I haven’t been eating as much in the summer time, but I’m looking forward to cold weather and start eating them for breakfast everyday! Thanks for the recipes!
Chelsea @ TableForOne says
August 13, 2015 at 10:23 amOats are my go-to when it comes to breakfast! I love that they keep me full and energized all morning. I’ve been making your overnight oats for so long now and absolutely love them, but I want to try your snack bars as well. They look like a great snack!
Kirsten says
August 13, 2015 at 10:36 amI’ve been eating your baked pumpkin oatmeal for years since my son was born. I make a double batch into full size muffins (same recipe, bake 20 minutes) and freeze them. I microwave them straight out of the freezer in the morning, put some peanut butter on top, and eat breakfast on the commute. I’ve taken them for the whole family on airplane or car rides too. Just an idea for a portable version!
KathEats says
August 13, 2015 at 11:03 amLove the idea!
Heidi Kokborg says
August 13, 2015 at 10:49 amThose baked oatmeal snackbars look really good! & the perfect snack in school 🙂
Carly says
August 13, 2015 at 11:20 amMmm I love oats, and all of these ideas! Specifically the pumpkin one – although I want summer to last forever, I am secretly excited for all the pumpkin! I saved that one, thanks!
Amanda says
August 13, 2015 at 11:32 amI’m so freaked out by the idea of a doughey smoothie? I feel like it would just taste like raw dough? I like bread that isn’t super done, maybe by some people’s standards, even a little undercooked… but not raw dough (unless it’s of the cookie variety, lol)!
KathEats says
August 13, 2015 at 11:40 amThis probably isn’t for you then! I loooove the flavor of dough!
Linda @ The Fitty says
August 13, 2015 at 11:33 amHave you ever made oatmeal in the slowcooker overnight? How did that turn out?
KathEats says
August 13, 2015 at 11:40 amI haven’t because that is my least favorite pot to clean! The rice cooker has been much more fun to use.
[email protected] says
August 13, 2015 at 11:49 amOh, oats – I couldn’t live without them. Overnight oats save me most days at work. I make a big batch for the week and it is the easiest thing to grab in the morning. I can’t wait to try the banana split idea!
Erin @ Her Heartland Soul says
August 13, 2015 at 12:27 pmI love oats! Great roundup!
Fancy says
August 13, 2015 at 1:24 pmGreat post! I bought ingredients to make 2 of these recipes for my daughter while I was at a Trader Joes today! Creative breakfast ideas on preschool mornings are always a struggle over here. Thanks Kath!
Kate says
August 13, 2015 at 2:46 pmI’ve been loving using ground oats in the place of flour in different recipes. I love the hearty texture!
Sarah says
August 13, 2015 at 7:17 pmThose oat bars look so good! I’m usually a fruit and yogurt breakfast type person. I picked up some cotton candy grapes at the store today and they totally made me think of you since they’re super sweet (they actually taste like cotton candy!) and you love sweet things so much!
Kylie @ immaEATthat says
August 14, 2015 at 12:54 amohhh this post has me craving your baked pumpkin oatmeal. That may have to happen tomorrow!<3 How was Mazen so little in that post haha?! He's so big now!!
Julia says
August 14, 2015 at 7:30 amLove oats in most any form! Another trick I use for school mornings is to make a huge omlet and just heat up single serving portions at breakfast. My son is also looking forward to school starting. He is a middle schooler this year and is totally stoked about it.