A while back, I posted these Cookie Dough Overnight Chia & Oats. It’s so simple, it’s barely a recipe. I even thought twice about posting it. I’m glad I did, because of lot of people out there have enjoyed it! It was my most popular recipe for a while, until the Metabolism Booster Smoothie crushed the stats on all other posts combined.
What did I learn from that? You like simple. And indulgent. But healthy.
Great, me too.
I do like to get creative in the kitchen, and have no problem with recipes that require a food processor, my juicer, and 3 pans. But I don’t cook like that all of the time. When I’m working 5 days a week, meals are not like that. I will cook like that on the weekend, and hope it lasts for several lunches and dinners throughout the week. Then, it’s on to simple meals like roast chicken and vegetables, bean and grain salads, and when Alex isn’t home, yogurt for dinner.
These yogurt “sundaes” actually didn’t originate on my breakfast menu. Alex loves dessert. He is from a family who ate dessert every night, and although we don’t, he likes to. Usually it’s fruit and yogurt, or some cookies. Occasionally I’ll bust out the frozen bananas and chocolate chips, especially if I’ve had a long workout prior to dinner. I remember one night when Alex and I were out to eat, and after looking at the dessert menu, he asked me if I would make him a chocolate chip mint smoothie when we got home instead. That’s right. Spinach for dessert. Awesome.
But it’s totally breakfast worthy. Oats for some healthy carbs to get your brain running in the morning, a boost of fiber and omega 3s from the chia seed, yogurt, bananas and walnuts. Sounds like breakfast to me.
I know what you’re thinking. What about the chocolate? Like I’ve said before, chocolate is health food. Where I draw the line is added sugar. And this Brownie Batter Overnight Chia and Oats is free of added sugars, besides the tiny amount in the dark chocolate.
Contents
5 Reasons to Eat Chocolate for Breakfast
- Chocolate is high in flavanols (catechins and epicatechins), the same antioxidants found in green tea and red wine. These compounds protect the heart from an unhealthy build up of cholesterol in the arteries.
- It keeps you cool, calm, and collected! Okay, maybe not everyone, but it does help lower blood pressure, also thanks to the flavanols.
- It has a small jolt of caffeine. It’s always nice to get a little boost in the morning, and since the caffeine content is lower in dark chocolate than in coffee, it doesn’t leave you feeling jittery.
- It’s high in iron. Often women feel tired because of low iron stores. Gram for gram, dark chocolate has 3 times more iron than spinach! Probably why we crave chocolate during that time of the month, ladies.
- It makes us smile– swoon– happy–Â caused by a burst of oxytocin released when you eat dark chocolate. Oxytocin is also released when you cuddle someone you love.
Now, there’s a big different between chocolate flavored candy, and chocolate. Milk chocolate is candy, not chocolate. It is mostly sugar and milk, with very low levels of actual chocolate. I use 85% dark chocolate (or 70%, if 85% isn’t available), not only because it tastes amazing, but also because I like to know I am getting lots of the good stuff, without very much sugar.
Using a high quality cocoa powder (like I used in these Brownie Batter Overnight Chia and Oats), is another great way to eat chocolate sans sugar at breakfast. I also add cocoa powder to smoothies, and even add it to coffee. My recipe for Caramel Mocha Iced Coffee Concentrate is another healthy, no processed sugar recipe that’s healthy enough to enjoy in the morning. But I also just add a teaspoon of cocoa powder to hot coffee (with a splash of almond or coconut milk)
Brownie Batter Chia & Oats
Ingredients
- 1/2 cup plain yogurt or Greek yogurt
- 3 tablespoons oatmeal
- 1 tablespoon chia seeds
- 1/2 tablespoon cocoa powder natural
- 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
- sea salt pinch
- 1/2 banana frozen, sliced
- 1 tablespoon walnuts chopped
- 1 teaspoon dark chocolate chopped
Instructions
- The night (or at least 1 hour) before, mix together the yogurt, oatmeal, chia seeds, cocoa powder, vanilla and sea salt. Sir well, and refrigerate.
- Right before serving, add sliced frozen banana and stir in. Top with walnuts and chocolate chips.
Nutrition
5 Ways to Enjoy Chocolate for Breakfast
- Chocolate Zucchini Protein Oatmeal Cups, by iFOODreal.
- “The Elvis” Toast, by Ohsheglows
- Chocolate Cookie Breakfast Cereal, by Family Fresh Cooking
- Tiramisu Pancakes, by Chocolate Covered Katie
- Dreamy Mint Chocolate Chip Smoothie, by Vitamin Sunshine
Sources
Brain in Love, Brain HQ
Chocolate is definitely a breakfast item.
I love adding chia seeds to my overnight oats. So good!
The chia really gives oatmeal staying power, too! Glad you agree on the chocolate for breakfast 🙂
This looks so delicious and I am all for easy, delicious, and healthy. I don’t have chia, but will adapt and try just with the oats 😀
For a while, I had to bring chia seeds back with me in my suitcase when I travelled home. But now they are all over Malaysia! They are gaining popularity. I bet it won’t be long before you can find them! A bit of extra oats would work well, too!
It’s every bit as good as it sounds. So decadent! Crazy what you can do with healthy ingredients if they are combined just right.
This sounds absolutely delicious and the pictures are droolworthy. I think I definitely need add chocolate to my breakfast!
Chocolate is a great way to start off the day!
Such a yummy healthy breakfast! Never skip breakfast as it’s important meal of the day!
You used your creativeness in cooking and creating ideas with positive results. This recipe is superb even when I observed the ingredients. Great and delicious.
I am so convinced of your reasons for eating chocolate for breakfast! Your recipe looks so good to eat. I like muesli and I think chocolate could be a way to spice it up.
Cocoa powder would be great mixed in to your muesli! Just add some banana for sweetness.
Oh my! I usually forget to eat breakfast but this surely will be one recipe for me to try as it’s so quick and easy and definitely energy giving!
Yes, since it can be made the night before, it’s easy to grab and take with you to work. I don’t give myself time to eat in the mornings either!
The pictures are so tasty themselves..I feel like gobbling one of them through my computer screen. Very nice effort.
Thank you! I have been working hard on my photography. It’s nice to know it’s being appreciated!
You had me at chocolate. This looks like a really tasty breakfast meal or even snack.
Chocolate is always a winner 🙂 I eat this as a snack probably more often than as breakfast!
Thanks Vanessa. I use cocoa powder a lot to enjoy chocolate without the extra fat and sugar it normally comes with. Or really dark chocolate, so I only need a small amount!
Chia is such a wonderful ingredient! I love to use it in baking as well.
I am a chocolate lover. Thanks for this meal.. =D
Wish I could add regularly chocolate in my breakfast. I am diabetic and needs to eat chocolate in moderate fashion.
I added a bit of unsweetened cocoa to my healthy breakfast smoothie today just because I love the taste, so it’s great to hear the decision is backed up by some seriously solid benefits!
I think I’ll have to try this next… I love the combination of oats, cocoa, walnuts and bananas!
I can’t imagine NOT being a chocolate lover 🙂 Maybe you just haven’t eaten the right chocolate! I hope you enjoy it.
I really wanted to like this but it was almost unpalatable. My kids didn’t like it nor did I. The yogurt was overpowering. I think it would have been better with mostly coconut milk and a little bit yogurt. Even with a bit of banana and chocolate chip in each bite, it was too sour. We even added sugar and taste was still too strong. I have a recipe made from chia seeds, coconut milk and cocoa powder which is good. I wanted to try something new….:( I’ll play with it. I hadn’t thought to add oats…
Thank you for the starting board of a recipe.
I love it– but I haven’t eaten sweetened yogurt in a very long time. It took a while for me to adjust to eating plain yogurt, and now I prefer the sour taste. The banana almost makes it too sweet for me to eat for breakfast– I usually just eat this when I really want a sweet treat 🙂 The oats do make it more of a meal if you’d like to have it for breakfast.