Here’s a clever way to meal prep we’re loving right now: jar meals. They’re super-quick to make, can be eaten almost anywhere and are perfect for breakfasts, salads, soups and so many other lunch ideas.
Granola Breakfast Parfaits
INGREDIENTS:
Granola:
3 cups of rolled oats
1/4 cup flax meal
1-1 1/2 cups of nuts and seeds of your choice (roughly chop larger nuts)
2 Tablespoons of olive oil
1/2 cup of honey
2 teaspoons of cinnamon
1 teaspoon of vanilla
1/4 teaspoon of salt
METHOD:
- Preheat oven to 325 degrees.
- Thoroughly mix all ingredients in a large bowl.
- Spread granola evenly on a large, parchment lined sheet pan.
- Bake for 30-40 minutes, stirring every 15 minutes.
- Check after 30 minutes. If granola isn’t golden brown, stir again and allow to cook for 10 more minutes.
- Cool and store in an airtight container.
TO ASSEMBLE:
4 cups of fruit of your choice cut into bite-sized pieces if necessary
1 large container of Plain Greek Yogurt (about 4 cups)
1/4 cup of honey
Prepared granola
Layer yogurt, honey, fruit, then granola in a mason jar. Repeat with one more layer. Tightly screw on the lid and store in the refrigerator. Can be assembled the night before.
Cocoa Banana Overnight Oats
2 cups rolled oats
1.5 cups milk (cows, almond, hazelnut)
½ cup yogurt
1 banana (mashed, chopped or sliced, whichever you prefer)
1–2 tablespoon cocoa
1 tbsp honey or maple syrup
Toppings of your choice
METHOD:
- Mix all the ingredients together in a bowl or jar and place in the fridge, preferably overnight or for at least 1 hour.
- When you are ready to tuck in, remove from the fridge and top with toppings of your choice. The oats can be eaten cold or heated in the microwave for 30-60 seconds. They will also keep in the fridge covered for 2-3 days.
Apple Pie
INGREDIENTS:
1 cup whole wheat flour
1 tbsp baking powder
1 tsp cinnamon
1/2 tsp nutmeg
Pinch of salt
1 tbsp almond butter
2/3 cup milk
1/2 tsp vanilla extract
1/2 cup apple butter
1 large apple, diced
1/4 cup raisins
METHOD:
- In a medium-sized bowl, combine all the dry ingredients.
- Add the almond butter, milk, and vanilla extract to the bowl and stir until everything is just combined.
- Add the apple butter to the batter, and gently stir, just to swirl the apple butter in, but not to stir it in completely- you want ribbons of apple butter.
- Dice up the apple into small pieces. Mix the apples and the raisins together and divide evenly into the bottom of two medium-sized mason jars.
- Divide the batter in half and spoon into the jars on top of the apple and raisin mixture.
- Place in the microwave and cook on high for 4-5 minutes, or until the dough is firm to the touch.
- Top with additional almond butter, yogurt, cinnamon, raisins, walnuts, ect.
IMPORTANT:
We’re all for the mason jar meal trend: It saves money and makes healthy food look more attractive, and it couldn’t be easier to whip up a quick bite on the morning of a busy day (or the night before).
But before you start jarring everything in sight, use caution (and oven mitts) when baking. After removing full jars from the oven, let them cool completely before screwing on the lid, and then refrigerate them immediately.
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