What is Overnight Oats? Is it Healthy? (2024)

FAQs

What is Overnight Oats? Is it Healthy? ›

Overnight oats offer a range of health benefits, due to their rich fibre and protein content. They also contain a number of vitamins and minerals, some of which include manganese, phosphorus, magnesium, copper, iron and zinc. This makes overnight oats healthy for your gut, as well as for overall health and well-being.

On the other hand, overnight oats are packed with a variety of nutrients. They are natural and high in nutrients like copper, zinc, iron, magnesium, phosphorus, vitamins, fibre, manganese, and other minerals that help keep your gut healthy and your digestive system running smoothly.

Oatmeal is high in fiber and nutrients but low in saturated and trans fats and sugar and can help you maintain a healthy blood sugar level. You can enjoy oats served warm as oatmeal or cold as overnight oats.

old fashioned rolled oats – rolled oats work best for overnight oats recipes! Quick oats/instant oats get too soggy and steel-cut oats don't soften enough. Oats are naturally gluten-free but are often cross-contaminated, so make sure you grab certified gluten-free, old-fashioned oats!

Overnight oats are perfectly safe to be eaten every day. You may even eat them every morning if you like. However, some say that they feel oats give them digestive issues; overnight oats are not unsafe for those without medical conditions that affect digestion.

There is no particular time to eat oats. You can consume the oats at lunch and dinner too. This cereal, however, is consumed in breakfast mostly. It contains fiber, magnesium, complex carbohydrates, etc, which help in keeping your tummy full for a longer time, thus, reducing overeating.

Yes, oats are high in carbs. According to the USDA, ½ cup of dry oats (or 1 cup of cooked oats) contains about 27 grams of carbohydrates. But, that isn't actually a bad thing; Oats are actually high in the healthy carbs your body needs to fuel itself.

Oats are a good source of carbohydrates and overeating may lead to an increase in your weight. As it is bland in nature, overconsuming oats may lead to an increase in sugar intake. Opting for an oats-only diet may deprive your body of getting nourishment from other healthy food sources.

Overnight oats are, by definition, served cold in the morning. Overnight oats are oats that are soaked in a liquid overnight so that the oats can absorb the liquid - no heating up necessary. The liquid can really be anything. It can be milk, a milk-alternative like almond or soy, or water.

How long do overnight oats last in the fridge? ›

We recommend storing overnight oats in the refrigerator in airtight containers for up to five days. That means if you're meal-prepping on Sunday, you can make a work week's worth of overnight oats and not have to think about breakfast again until Saturday.

The intensity of heat while cooking is the contributing factor, lower the heat better the nutrient availability. When you soak the oats overnight, it's almost like you're cooking them, but the process is much longer and slower, and it's done without heat. Hence, it is more nutrient rich than cooked version.

Downsides of Overnight Oats

As a dietitian, one disadvantage I see in many overnight oats (both recipes and ready made) is that they're too low in protein for a balanced meal. I typically recommend most clients aim between 20-30 grams of protein at a meal, and many overnight oat recipes fall well below that benchmark.

If you don't add enough liquid, your oats will be dry and clumpy in the morning, making them less enjoyable to eat. Make sure to add enough milk or yogurt to fully cover your oats and give them a creamy consistency.

Whatever you do, steer clear of the worst offenders: dried fruit with added sugars, like Craisins or dried pineapple. "These are almost always made with added sugar, if not also an artificial sweetener, says Pennsylvania-based RD Gina Consalvo. "Always choose a fresh fruit instead." Need hard proof?

When you soak oats, it's almost like you're cooking them without heat. Soaking helps the starches break down and reduces the natural phytic acid, which may help your body utilize the oats' nutrients much more efficiently. Overnight oats are healthier for your gut.

One advantage of overnight oats is that they contain more resistant starch than cooked oats. Resistant starch is a type carbohydrate that doesn't get digested in your small intestine. Instead, resistant starch ferments in your large intestine and acts as a prebiotic, feeding the good bacteria in your gut.

When oats soak overnight, it's almost like you're cooking them without the heat, which helps the starches break down. Once broken down, the levels of phytic acid in the oats decreases, allowing your body to better absorb the nutrients and digest them more efficiently.

Are Overnight Oats Keto-Friendly? No, the classic overnight oats recipe is made of oats, a wholesome natural grain but very high in carbs. In fact, oats contain about 56 grams of net carbs per 100 grams. As a result, they spike blood sugar levels and are not approved on a keto diet.