Serves 4 little kids or 2 big kids
This is in the lunchbox section because it is portable, for those rare (!) times when breakfast is served in the car. There is no more satisfying, sustaining, easy-to-eat-on-the-go morning meal than this.
Any fruit, chopped small, is nice to top off this no-cook oatmeal. Of course, you should substitute your favorite berries, sliced bananas, or diced plums for the pear if you’d like.
2½ cups old-fashioned rolled oats
2 cups whole milk
3 tablespoons maple syrup, plus more for garnish
1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
½ teaspoon ground cinnamon, plus more for garnish
¼ teaspoon kosher salt
2 small ripe pears, cored and diced
½ cup chopped walnuts, toasted
Vanilla or plain Greek yogurt
In a large bowl, combine the oats, milk, maple syrup, vanilla, cinnamon, and salt. Cover and refrigerate overnight.
Serve the oatmeal buffet-style, with small bowls and jars of the accompaniments—pears, walnuts, yogurt, maple syrup, and cinnamon.