The other morning, Nikki and I ran long together. Waiting in a cooler in her car were 2 jars of overnight oats tied up in string. I relished the oats, and was thankful, as I’m always hustling on to the next thing, and it was a treat to refuel with something so easy and bursting in flavors and texture. Overnight oats are meant to be eaten cold and usually consist of a mixture of milk, yogurt, oats and extras. You make them the night before and stick them in the fridge. The mixture thickens and the oats soften. Delightful for summer months and great as a refueling option in your summer-to-fall training. There are a lot of recipes out there; you should experiment to create the perfect overnight combo of your own. To get you started we suggest:

OVERNIGHT OATS
(Yields 1 Serving)

To Overnight
1/3 C oats
1 tbsp chia seeds (or ground flax – for Omega 3’s)
1/3 C plain or vanilla Greek yogurt
1/3 C almond, soy or skim milk
1/2 banana, diced (adds natural sweetness too!)
Handful of blueberries, dried cranberries, or other preferred fruits (*Nikki added in apricots, which was on point)
Cinnamon

Toppings
Almonds, peanuts, sunflower seeds, pistachios, chia seeds
Nut butter/s
Fresh fruit (peaches, strawberries, blueberries, pomegranate, etc. These can also be stirred into the overnight mix)
Honey

Directions
Mix together all of the “overnight” ingredients. Mixture will be soupy, but remember it will thicken in the fridge as the oats absorb the liquid.
Cover and place in fridge overnight (or at least 30 mins.)
In the morning, add desired toppings and enjoy!