A Feel-Good Breakfast to Start Your Day Off Right

Summertime is fast approaching, but a simple hot breakfast is always in season. This feel-good breakfast of delicious and filling oatmeal is an easy start to any morning. Eat it at home, on the go or at the office. It’s adaptable to any mood, season or location. Not to mention, it’s packed with nutrients and flavor.

I usually make mine in an 8-ounce mason jar. It makes measuring easy, and it travels well when I don’t have time to eat breakfast at home, but any container would work. Before the final heating step, I usually transfer the oats to a larger bowl that holds at least 12 ounces to allow for expansion as it cooks.

With a few tweaks, the flavor of this recipe can change drastically. And — best of all — it’s basically fool-proof for those mornings when you really need something to go right.

The crucial ingredients are the oats, chia seeds and liquid. You don’t have to use almond milk, but I like the extra nuttiness it provides. You could use water or any other kind of milk instead for a different flavor.

The chia seeds and oats need to soak in whatever liquid you choose for 10 minutes, at least. I usually let mine soak for an hour because that’s usually the soonest I can get around to eating it after the initial prep stage. Of course, you can also super simplify your morning by making this the night before. Just leave it in the fridge until you’re ready for it.

When you do get around to eating your oatmeal, just add water. The amount is up to you as it will determine the thickness. You can add hot or cold water, stir it in, then microwave until it starts to bubble in the center, which is usually about one minute for me when I add about one-third cup of warm water.

I add ground flax seed for an extra dose of fiber and omega 3 fatty acids, but it doesn’t affect the flavor. I grew up on maple and brown sugar oatmeal, so I add brown sugar to address that craving. You could add maple syrup, too, or instead, or not at all. A more recent addition of mine is crushed walnuts and dried cranberries. It tastes good without dried cranberries, but it tastes so much better with them. They add the perfect burst of flavor. You could also sub in raisins or chopped apples or whatever else you have around. This recipe is versatile enough to make any additions taste great.