Overnight Breakfasts Will Change Your World

Nothing sets you up for the day ahead quite like a solid breakfast. Whether you’re heading to work, wrangling your kids or set to enjoy a relaxing day, your breakfast can be the difference between feeling energised and wanting to give up before lunch time.

However, we don’t all have the time in the morning to whip up a tasty and nutritious breakfast that will make sure we’re ready for anything the day throws at us. This is why many of us simply skip brekkie or grab something less than healthy on the way to work.

There are ways to ensure your breakfast is good to go, though, including making it the night before. Overnight breakfasts are simple, delicious and could even mean you have something at the ready for every morning of the week.

You may have heard that chia seeds are a great addition to your diet as they have been hailed as a superfood. They are low calorie, high in nutrients, contain lots of fibre, are a good source of protein and make you feel fuller for longer. Chia seeds are also a great ingredient for making an overnight breakfast pudding.

All you need to do is mix some chia seeds with milk – this can be dairy, coconut, rice or nut depending on your preference – leave them to soak overnight in a jar, remember that they absorb a lot of liquid so a few seeds will do the trick, and then your breakfast will be ready.

Of course, you can make them taste more interesting by adding other things to the mix, such as honey for sweetness, cocoa powder for a chocolate fix, fruit for extra flavour and even nuts for a different texture.

The weather is soon to be getting a bit colder, which means that many people will want something warming for their breakfast. This is when French toast bakes really hit the spot.

You assemble the bake the night before to allow the bread to soak up all the flavour and then simply pop it in the oven for half an hour or so while you’re getting ready. Then just dish it up and eat it before leaving, while commuting or when you get into the office.

The simplest French toast bake just needs you to whisk some eggs, milk and a dash of salt together to create a simple custard – you can also add honey or maple syrup for sweetness to avoid needing to sprinkle sugar over the bake. In a butter-greased baking tray, soak slices or cubes of bread in the custard, cover with clingfilm and pop in the fridge overnight. In the morning, bake until golden and you’re good to go.

Your bake can be made more interesting by adding fruit, chocolate chips or anything else that takes your fancy the night before.

That’s right, quinoa isn’t just for salads, you can also have it for breakfast in the form of a pudding. Like chia seeds, quinoa is a bit of a superfood and will help you feel energised and full until your next meal.

To make a quinoa pudding, you need to cook it first, which is why this is a great choice for preparing the night before. Cook your quinoa according to the instructions until it is light and fluffy and then set aside to cool.

Mix it with a milk of your choice – coconut works particularly well – any spices you might like and something to sweeten it, such as honey, maple syrup or agave nectar. You can even throw in some chia seeds too.

Pop the mix in a covered bowl and allow to soak overnight. Then you just need to serve it up into containers or bowls in the morning and you’re good to go! For a more interesting pudding, try making different fruit purees the night before or adding sliced or dried fruit to the finished meal.