In elementary school, one of my closest friends lived right around the corner from my house. We met for play dates at least once a week, and as we grew older, some of those transitioned into sleepovers on the weekends.
After lots of time dressing up our dolls, watching Disney movies, and whispering to each other in her bunk bed in the dark (to avoid her mom overhearing and reprimanding us to go to sleep!), we woke up early the next morning and bounded downstairs for breakfast. Still in our PJs, we clambered up onto dining chairs while her mom opened the cupboards.
Her mom had established a breakfast cereal rule for their house before we started kindergarten. She insisted on wholesome options on weekdays, like plain corn flakes or Raisin Bran, but her daughters could pick anything they liked on weekends and special occasions. Cinnamon Toast Crunch, Lucky Charms, Cap’n Crunch, Cocoa Pops, Golden Grahams… Anything on their kitchen shelves was fair game for our slumber parties!
Yet on chilly weekend mornings, we gravitated more towards hot breakfasts: buttery toast showered with cinnamon sugar, jam-filled toaster pastries drizzled with icing, and even “fancy” bowls of oatmeal. Her mom bought fun flavors like strawberries ’n cream and dinosaur eggs, where the hot water melted the icing eggs to reveal dinosaur-shaped sprinkles underneath.
Those felt extra special compared to the oatmeal options at my own house. My mom mainly bought apple cinnamon — partially because my brother and I were picky (yet we still ate apples almost every day!) — and never strawberry or dinosaur eggs… So those quickly turned into new favorites!
And now, when I whip up bowls of these healthy strawberry protein overnight oats, those childhood sleepover memories come flooding back… But unlike in elementary school, I can enjoy this oatmeal any day of the week!
It’s made with entirely wholesome ingredients, yet it’s just as fruity and satisfying as those little packets I remember eating at my friend’s house on weekends. This oatmeal recipe is also full of protein and incredibly easy to make!
Continue reading & see the rest! ›› Healthy Strawberry Protein Overnight Oats
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