Vegan Breakfast Recipes: Grain-Free Overnight "Oats"

Love overnights oats but can't find a recipe that isn't loaded with sugar and processed foods? Try this clever, gluten-free and grain-free adaptation for a healthier morning meal.

A version of this recipe previously appeared on JacalynBeales.com

I'm just going to throw it out there: I love mushy food.
I know, I know--that's totally disgusting and revolting and...well, whatever other words you can think of to aptly describe how gross "mushy food" is. But I'm a fan, and that's all there is to it.
Which is probably why I love oatmeal. More specifically, overnight oats.

Everyone from bloggers and writers to Instagram-famous models and trainers seems to swear by the ease and convenience of overnight oats, but for some reason, many of the glorified recipes tossed up onto social media feeds contain fattening additives and, often, animal by-products. We're talking whey protein, chocolate milk, Quest bars, brown sugar, cane sugar, white sugar, other forms of sugar, chocolate chips, apple pie filling...you name it, I've seen an overnight oats recipe for it, and it's so confusing. Here I am, thinking overnight oats are supposed to be the dry, flaky oats you mix with some hot water and maybe some fresh fruit; meanwhile, people are transforming their Starbucks' PSLs into overnight fridge oats.

Overwhelmed by the amount of choices and variations, I wanted to try something a little more simple, a little more vegan and maybe, just maybe, a little more oat-free.
Yes, oat free.
Just in case you've never heard of these tiny little, bead-like superfoods called chia seeds, allow me to briefly explain just what the heck they are and why you should be substituting them for your typical rolled oats. The itty-bitty, grey-ish beads are actually derived from a plant in the mint family and are native to Southern Mexico and Guatemala. With a pretty impressive nutritional profile--chia seeds contain calcium, phosphorous and magnesium, among a host of other benefits--they've become one of the world's most notorious superfoods. When mixed with liquids, they expand to absorb an incredible amount of said liquids and develop a slightly slimy texture that, though kind of disgusting, is perfectly tasteless. They work wonders as a binding agent, which is why many use a chia-seed-and-water mixture to sub out eggs in baking recipes.
They also happen to be perfect as an alternative to oats. Seriously! Which is why I decided to take to my pantry and whip up some overnight choats (chia-oats) with the tiny little bombs of nutrition, using the beautiful autumn season as inspiration. If you're looking to try something new for breakfast, want a filling yet healthy snack for work, or simply want to up your overnight oats game, give this recipe a go--and then make it for your friends and "fool" them into eating some healthy "oats" ;)