After a 1 week break from workouts, I finally felt like I had enough energy to get back into exercise yesterday. My body was literally craving a run! It was also a good excuse to take a much needed break from unpacking.
For some pre-run fuel, I tried out a Vega snack bar that I had in my purse since…well, that would be anyone’s guess.
I really enjoyed the Vega Vibrancy Chocolate Bar (top), but I didn’t care much for the chocolate Whole Food Energy bar. Somehow I managed to polish it off over the past week though.
This is the Vega Chocolate Vibrancy Bar below. It was quite good with a nice chocolate flavour and sprouted buckwheat groats for crunch. It tasted like dessert which is always a plus in my books.
I headed over to the beautiful Lakeshore for my run. This was my first official training run in Oakville. The only other time I think I’ve run in Oakville was the Oakville Labour Day 10km race that I ran in 2010.
It’s such a gorgeous trail, I felt like I was on vacation.
Do I have any readers who run around Lakeshore? I was thinking about starting up a running group at some point. Let me know if that would interest any of you!
I was quite delighted to see a bunch of long staircases throughout my run. That sounds so sick and twisted, I know.
Back in 2007-2008 when we lived in a condo in Toronto, I used to walk 28 flights of stairs every day (it took me about 4 minutes if I remember correctly) as a way to sneak in exercise since my job was so sedentary. I’m a big fan of stairs and will walk them whenever I get a chance.
This one just screams run up me!
I’m seeing some interval stair workouts in my future… :)
This little guy may seem innocent, but he tried to chase me when I got too close.
Some speed training ensued…bahah.
With all the craziness that’s been going on with the move, I completely forgot about all the races I have coming up back to back- and two of which are 10k’s:
- April 15th: Mercedes-Benz Oakville 10K
- April 22nd: Toronto Yonge Street 10k
- April 28th: 5k Ford Race to end Diabetes in Oakville
I guess I’m going to have to start getting back into a consistent training mode. I haven’t run over 6km in a dog’s age.
For my post-run breakfast, I had a rather GREEN bowl of vegan overnight oats. Much like Green Monsters, you don’t taste the greens in vegan overnight oats (when made with a banana or other sweetener).
A couple years ago, a few blog readers told me to try combining a Green Monster and vegan overnight oats. I thought they were crazy (in a good way, obviously) and finally got the nerve to try it…oh, two years later!
All you do is blend a Green Monster before bed and pour it into a bowl of rolled oats and stir it all up. In the morning you will have a Green Monster/vegan overnight oat hybrid waiting for you in the fridge. I’ve made it with spinach and also with kale and both were delicious. I’m telling you, I was kicking myself for waiting so long to try it out!
Just trust me on this one. Did the Green Monster ever steer you wrong?
I rest my case.
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Green Monster Vegan Overnight Oats
Yield
1 serving
Prep time
Cook time
0 minutes
Total time
Ingredients
- 1 large handful fresh spinach or small handful of kale
- 1 large ripe banana
- 1.5 tbsp chia seeds (necessary for thickening)
- 1 cup almond milk
- 1/3 cup regular, rolled oats
Directions
- In a blender, blend together the spinach, banana, chia seeds, and almond milk until smooth.
- In a cereal bowl, add the oats and then pour the smoothie on top. Stir well until combined.
- Place in fridge (uncovered is fine) overnight. Give it a good stir in the morning and then enjoy it cold, straight from the fridge. Add desired toppings as you wish such as nut butter, granola, coconut, fruit, etc.
I just made and tried these overnight oats for the first time and they are delicious!!! I think I found my new favorite breakfast, thanks!
Absolutely amazing. When I saw it in the morning I though to myself, “ummmm yuck.” but it turns out it was amazingg
I just made these for tomorrow morning’s breakfast. My additions: Truvia to sweeten a bit (because I used Kale and a lot of it!) and a scant tsp of guar gum. It made my smoothie so thick as to require a spoon, which I love. Tonight I’ll be dreaming in green! :)
I guess I’m a bit of a late-bloomer, as I just joined the overnight oats (I don’t know why we call it that when it’s the same thing as Muesli – but who cares what it’s called, it’s amazing) club, and since trying them for the first time about a week ago, I haven’t gone a day without them! In fact, sometimes I even turn it into, I can’t wait all night oats – I don’t even wait, just throw everything together and dig in (well, I let it sit for about 10-30 minutes if I can). If you use the quick oats instead of the old fashioned type, they get really soft really fast. I usually make mine with a mix of yogurt and almond milk. I don’t use chia as I don’t want all those calories in such a small amount of food… I’d rather increase the amount of oats and liquid to get a larger, more filling portion. I don’t find these to be very filling, probably because they lack all the water and volume that their cooked counterparts contain, but they are soooo good!
I love green smoothies, so I will be trying this. I am having so much fun throwing together different oaty concoctions!! I have so many ideas that I may well dedicate an entire day to eating just overnight oats all day!! Mmmm how amazing would that be?!
Do you cook the oats before you mix them with the smoothie? Or just mix the smoothie with dry oats, and then refrigerate (also: are rolled oats the same as quick oats?)?
I loved the concept of overnight oats. It’s great. You just have to get up and your breakfast is already ready. How amazing it is! Moreover, a vegan diet is a very healthy option. Thanks a lot for letting us know about this yummy breakfast.
I have had overnight oats before and really liked them. I thought they would be good to introduce to my boyfriend. I started with this one today. Perhaps not the best one to start with because although it tastes fine (I added cacao nips, coconut and almonds), it really doesn’t look appealing. And there something off-putting about spooning something green and thick into my mouth. I think I’ll try a different one tomorrow…lol.
Angela- Is this a good alternative for someone who really likes to eat something more substantial than drink a smoothie for breakfast, but still wants the benefits of the green monsters?? I like them and want to incorporate them, but I love my mornings and eating something in the morning. Am I missing out on the benefits by not having it in smoothie form?? Thanks!- I love following your site!
Hi Pam, I would suggest having one for a mid day snack as opposed to breakfast. enjoy!
I have a question about the overnight oats – is it necessary to keep the banana? I’m curious because I sometimes want to use other fruits as toppings or mixed in, and don’t like to have too much sugar at once; even if it the natural kind.
THANKS!
Hi Melissa, You can make it without, it just won’t be quite as thick and creamy. Good luck & enjoy!
You are absolutely fabulous, Angela! Not only have you inspired me to stick with being vegan (despite family reunions full of meats and comments regarding my food choices), but you greatly contributed to enjoying, actually loving every single bit and bite of this choice. Your recipes are fantastic and your posts delightful. AND, what adds to it nicely is the inspiration to go back to running, in addition to my indoors workouts.
All in all, I feel like I’ve met an extraordinaire person who literally made my life better. So thank you :) !
Diana, thank you so much for your lovely comment! I appreciate it so much & so glad to hear how much you enjoy the site! Thank YOU for making my day brighter. :)
Do you think that this would work with Steal Cut Oats?
I have a green drink that I mix up every morning, and I like the ingredients, but it tastes purely like grass does (I think). I am ordering this to try it. Thanks for heads up, Angela
Hey Angela, do you have to put the oats in the fridge or can you leave them out over night? I get cold easily and having room temperature green oats would definitely help.
I would think they would need to be chilled to avoid bacteria growth?
I hate running. I do it for the health benefits, but I can’t say I really enjoy it. Maybe that’s because I live in the city and don’t have the beautiful scenery you posted here. And not sure about that green monster oats creation, just too green for breakfast…I’ll probably make it, just to try it.
Yum! going to try this tomorrow!
Hi! this green monster oats look yummie. Have a few questions though…
1. why is it necessary to put it in the fridge for so long?
2. leaves tend to lose their nutritious value once they are put in a blender unless a masticator type is used. How about the banana which goes brown quickly?
Thank you so much, and congrats on your blog. First time here :)
Milagros
I LOVE this overnight green monster recipe and your pics too… I am a beginner so I have fallen in love with your blog. Thank you!
I simply adore your blog, I’m a fourteen year old girl and I have a food technology controlled assessment where I have to come up with at least eight dairy free main meals or desserts and make them. But since I already read your blog, I thought I’d get my inspiration from here aha :)
I love the green monster and overnight so much so I’m buzzing to try this, reading your stories ar helping me to recover from my ed and eating healthily using your recipies has been the best way to do it. Thank-you and sorry for the long comment, keep it going :) x
Prepared these oats for tomorrow morning- my mum hates spinach and thinks i’m going crazy haha! so excited to try them :)
Hello,in regards to your Green Monster Vegan Overnight OatsI was thinking that it seems it would be more nutritious to add the juiced spinach or kale right before eating. Prolonged exposure to air, the vital enzymes and nutrients in the juice begin to deteriorate and are mostly gone within twenty minutes time.
And can I ask why the banana should be quite ripe? Is that for the sweetness?