If you’ve been following me on Instagram, you’ll know that one of my favorite evening treat is a big bowl of protein packed oatmeal. Yes, I eat my oatmeal for dessert. If I can swing it, I’ll have oatmeal as my preworkout and again in the evening. Even in the summer months.
I’m going to go out on a limb here, but I think dessert oats are superior than the traditional morning oats. Easily. Agree or disagree? Having a higher carb meal before bed may sound scary if you’re new to tracking macros or calories. I know that I feared eating carbs after dark growing up and in my early 20s. But I promise that it’s just an old wives tale. At the end of the day, if you eat within your calories macros, you’ll continue to make progress.
If you’re someone that likes snacking in the evening or has a sweet tooth after dinner, this recipe is perfect. Oats are slower digesting so you’ll likely feel satisfied longer. The added fats from the peanut butter will also slow down your digestion a bit, again keeping you feeling satisfied longer. I like eating this meal about two hours before I go to bed so I have some time for the food to digest so I don’t go to bed absolutely full.
The other great thing about this recipe, is that’s it’s customizable. You can use any protein powder that you have on hand – I use a whey/casein blend which will digest slower (and it’s great for baking). If you’re low on fats for the day, half the peanut butter or stir in peanut butter powder instead.
If you’re not into dessert oats, you can make this as overnight oats just as easily. Mix everything together, except the peanut butter and optional toppings, and refrigerate overnight. It’s perfect for breakfast on mornings I go to the gym!
What You’ll Need
- 40 grams quick oats
- 15 grams protein powder (I like Quest Vanilla Ice Cream)
- 16 grams peanut butter
- 20 grams blueberries
- Chocolate chips, sprinkles
In a microwave safe bowl, add the quick oats and fill with water until it reaches just above the level of the oats. Microwave for a minute. Stir and microwave again for another minute, paying close attention to the oats so they don’t boil over. If the oats are getting too thick for your liking, add in a bit more water, stir, and microwave again. Once the oats are cooked to your liking, let sit for a minute or two to cool. Be careful – the bowl and oats will be hot.
After the oats have cooled, add in the blueberries, peanut butter, chocolate chips, and sprinkles. Let the peanut butter and chocolate chips sit for a minute or so to melt slightly, then stir to mix in and add some additional sweetness to the oats.
Macros for my bowl with the ingredients above: 313 calories, 32 carbs, 20 protein, 13 fat. Again, this recipe can be completely customized to your macros, just play around with your ingredients.