Banana bread overnight oats are a brilliantly easy breakfast idea for seniors or caregivers to prepare for their aging loved ones that eliminate the hassle of cooking in the morning. Overnight oats are a simple, delicious no-cook method of making oatmeal.
Instead, seniors can safely prepare this make-ahead breakfast the night before, without using the stovetop or microwave, by soaking raw oats with milk. Raw oats absorb the milk by transforming into a thick yet creamy soft oatmeal that can be enjoyed cold as a grab-and-go meal.
Our banana bread-inspired overnight oats feature old-fashioned oats soaked in low-fat milk, blended with mashed banana, chia seeds, ground cinnamon, then sprinkled with chopped nuts and drizzled with honey for added sweetness.
Are Banana Bread Oats Healthy for Seniors?
Our banana bread overnight oats are not only delicious and easily prepared with minimal preparation, but they’re nutrient-rich, making a healthy way to start the day on any day of the week.
Banana bread overnight oats are brimming with raw oats that contain heart-healthy Beta-glucan fiber, which also helps improve insulin sensitivity when incorporated into a wholesome diet.
Seniors looking for an excellent source of potassium should look no further than the banana. Bananas are often considered a potassium powerhouse that is easy to digest with an impressive 450mg potassium per fruit. Potassium is a vital mineral and electrolyte for cardiovascular health, especially for aging adults.
Chia seeds may be the easiest way of consuming those essential omega 3-fatty acids for seniors. Surprisingly, chia seeds are the richest plant source of omega-3 fatty acids, and our overnight oats are chock full of them! Effortlessly boost your cardiovascular health by lowering cholesterol, blood pressure, preventing blood clots, and decreasing inflammation with this simple make-ahead breakfast.
Banana Bread Overnight Oats
Serves 1
Prep Time: 5 min
Cook Time: 0 min
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Ingredients
1 ripe banana, mashed
1/2 cup steel-cut or old fashioned rolled oats
1 cup low-fat milk or plant-based milk of your choice
1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/8 teaspoon kosher salt
1 teaspoon light brown sugar
2 teaspoons chia seeds
pre-chopped nuts, of your choice, for garnish
sliced banana, for garnish
honey, for added sweetness
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Supplies
potato masher or fork
1 pint-sized mason jar (16oz) or medium-sized cereal bowl
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Directions
In a medium bowl, mash your ripe banana using a fork or potato masher.
Next, pour in the raw oats, milk, cinnamon, salt, brown sugar, and chia seeds. Stir to combine. Then carefully pour the prepared mixture into a mason jar or cereal bowl. If using a mason jar, secure the lid. If using a cereal bowl, cover tightly with tin foil or plastic wrap—place in the refrigerator overnight.
The following morning, if preferred, add garnishes to the top of your overnight oats. Slice a banana and add the slices to the top, along with pre-chopped nuts and a drizzle of honey. Eat the chilled overnight oats directly from the jar with a spoon. Enjoy!
Cooking Tips While Aging in Place
Often, certain health conditions such as arthritis or poor vision can make everyday cooking tasks challenging for seniors. However, there are helpful ways to accommodate aging adults and increase independence.
Our recipe calls for mashed bananas, which can be challenging for some seniors with hand and wrist mobility issues. The riper the banana, the easier it will be to mash. However using a potato masher over a fork, will make this task more comfortable.
We suggest substituting fresh bananas with stage two organic pureed banana baby foods to eliminate tedious movements of mashing altogether. Organic stage two baby foods offer the same flavor and texture of mashed bananas, making a fitting substitute for this recipe. Use one jar or one pouch for one banana.
