“You’re off to Great Places!
Today is your day!
Your mountain is waiting,
So… get on your way!”
~ Dr. Seuss

Schools are set to reopen soon. We will be back into our rushed mornings while getting out of the relaxed summer holiday mode. Are you looking for easy and healthy breakfast or snack ideas? If that’s the case, you’re at the right spot. Here’s what you need to get started.

Ingredients

For the basic oat-chia pudding layer                                                               

  • 1/2 cup oats
  • 1/4 cup chia seeds
  • 1 and 3/4 cup plant based or cow milk
  • 1/4 cup maple syrup or other sweetener of your choice

For the yogurt layer

  • 1 and 1/4 cup plant based yogurt, regular or Greek yogurt
  • 1 tablespoon maple syrup or other sweetener of your choice

For the fruit layer

  • Cut or whole fruits of your choice

ingredientscollage_NSW

 

Method

Basic oat-chia pudding layer

  • Mix all ingredients except the maple syrup in a pot and set on a medium-high flame.
  •  Let it come to a boil. Shut off the flame, add in the maple syrup, stir and let the mixture cool down to room temperature (about 10-15 minutes).
  •  The chia seeds will form a gel coating around them and the mixture will thicken.

chiagel_NSW

Yogurt layer

  • Mix the ingredients in a bowl and set aside to use when assembling the parfait.

Fruit layer

  •  Wash the fruit. Cut it to garnish the top layer of the parfait.
  • Choose from blueberries and blackberries, avocado and kiwi for another, and a whole list of other options.

assemblingcollage_NSW

 

Assemble

Blueberry-blackberry oat chia pudding parfait

  •  In a bowl, take 1/4 cup blueberries. Mash the berries with a fork.
  • Take 1/3rd cup (1/4 cup for a smaller portion) of the oat chia pudding and mix together with the smashed berries till they release their colour.
  • Spoon the mixture into a glass or jar as the bottom layer of the parfait.
  • Spoon 1/4 cup of the sweetened Greek yogurt as the second layer of the parfait.
  • Top with more blueberries and black berries as the final layer of the parfait.

blueberry_NSWF

 

Avocado-kiwi oat chia pudding parfait

  • In a bowl, mash 1/2 an avocado.
  • Take 1/3rd cup (1/4 cup for a smaller portion) of the oat chia pudding, 1/2 teaspoon lemon juice and mix it together with the mashed avocado.
  • Spoon the mixture into a glass or jar as the bottom layer of the parfait.
  • Spoon 1/4 cup of the sweetened Greek yogurt as the second layer of the parfait.
  • Top with kiwi slices as the final layer of the parfait.

 

kiwi_NSWF

Pineapple-banana oat chia pudding parfait

  • Cut a slice of pineapple into small cubes.
  • Take 1/3rd cup (1/4 cup for a smaller portion) of the oat chia pudding, and mix together with the pineapple cubes.
  • Spoon the mixture into a glass or jar as the bottom layer of the parfait.
  • Spoon 1/4 cup of the sweetened Greek yogurt as the second layer of the parfait.
  • Top with more pineapple chunks and banana slices as the final layer of the parfait.

 

banana_NSWF

Carrot-peach oat chia pudding parfait

  •  Finely grate 1/2 a medium sized carrot.
  • Take 1/3rd cup (1/4 cup for a smaller portion) of the oat chia pudding and mix with the grated carrot.
  • Spoon the mixture into a glass or jar as the bottom layer of the parfait.
  • Spoon 1/4 cup of the sweetened Greek yogurt as the second layer of the parfait.
  • Top with peach wedges and dried mango strips as the final layer of the parfait.

carrot_peach_NSW

Raspberry-cherry chia pudding parfait

  •  Mash 1/3rd cup raspberries (frozen thawed or fresh).
  • Add 1/3rd cup (1/4 cup for a smaller portion) of the oat chia pudding and mix with the mashed berries.
  • Spoon the mixture into a glass or jar as the bottom layer of the parfait.
  • Spoon 1/4 cup of the sweetened Greek yogurt as the second layer of the parfait.
  •  Top with cherries and plum wedges as the final layer of the parfait.

raspberry_NSW

My family totally loved these parfaits and can’t wait for the next batch to be made. I have suggested 5 colours and flavours for 5 days of the week. The above makes 5 portions, so adjust quantities for smaller or lesser portions.

Here are a few tips and suggestions:

  • Ideally have these parfaits chilled. They stay well for about 12-15 hours. After that, there is some discoloration possible as it contains mashed fruit.
  • These can be assembled post dinner, covered and chilled overnight for a grab-and-go breakfast.
  • You can eliminate the cooking by taking all the ingredients for the basic oat chia pudding in a bowl and let these sit covered in the fridge overnight. Assemble the parfait in the morning if that is more convenient.
  • A variation to store these for a longer period in the refrigerator would be to skip any mashed fruit and just use the basic oat chia pudding parfait as the bottom layer of the parfait and add fruit only as the topmost layer.
  • Another tip for storing these longer in the refrigerator as a make ahead breakfast/ meal/ snack would be to use Greek yogurt instead of regular yogurt as it is thicker and the yogurt layer stays as is without dripping / sinking.

sideview2_NSW

Hope you enjoy experimenting with more colours, fruits and assembling your parfaits. Good luck to you all with the start of the new academic year!

 

Disclaimer: Opinions and methods expressed are solely of the writer. Namaste Switzerland does not undertake any obligation or liability which may arise from the content.