Your guide to staying well-fed, well-energised and ready for the busiest time of the year - oats included.
The end of the year in Australia is a lot of fun and a bit of a whirlwind. There are breakups for work and school, backyard barbies, beach days, carols by candlelight, and more "let's catch up before Christmas" plans than anyone has weekends for. Somewhere in there, breakfast turns into a mince pie on the way out the door. Lunch becomes a handful of chips.
We get it. Nobody wants a steaming bowl of porridge when it's 34 degrees by 9am. But you don't have to drop oats when summer arrives. They just need a summer outfit.
Why breakfast matters more when the Silly Season is here
When the calendar fills up, it's easy to let breakfast slide. A good breakfast is often what keeps the rest of the day on track. Oats are a whole grain and a source of fibre, and a bowl in the morning helps you feel satisfied until lunch. That makes you less likely to hit the 10am biscuit tin, or the 3pm servo pie.
A solid start also makes it easier to enjoy the treats that come with the season. Christmas lunch, a slice of pav and a cold drink with friends are part of what makes summer great. You're not trying to be perfect. You're trying to feel good enough to enjoy all of it.
Five ways to keep oats on the menu this summer
1. Swap hot porridge for overnight oats
Overnight oats are summer porridge. Mix them the night before, put them in the fridge, and breakfast is ready when you are. Take the jar to work, the beach or the car on the school-holiday drive. Our Overnight Oats Pack has everything you need to get started.
RECIPE CARD
Tropical Overnight Oats
Serves 1 · Prep 5 mins · Chill overnight
You'll need:
- ½ cup GF Oats Quick Oats or Traditional Oats
- ½ cup milk (dairy, oat or your favourite)
- ¼ cup Greek or coconut yoghurt
- 1 tbsp chia seeds
- ½ fresh mango, diced
- 1 passionfruit
- 1 tbsp shredded coconut
Method:
- Stir the oats, milk, yoghurt and chia together in a jar.
- Cover and refrigerate overnight, or for at least 4 hours.
- In the morning, top with mango, passionfruit pulp and coconut.
Tip: Quick Oats give a softer, creamier texture. Traditional Oats keep more bite.
2. Build a better muesli bowl
Muesli is quick and crunchy, and it's great with cold milk or yoghurt on a hot morning. Our blends are sweetened with less refined options like coconut sugar. Choose from the Fruit & Nut Blend, the High Fibre Blend or the Mixed Spice Blend, which tastes a lot like Christmas. Top your bowl with summer stone fruit. Peaches, nectarines and cherries are all at their best right now.
RECIPE CARD
Summer Stone Fruit Muesli Bowl
Serves 1 · Prep 3 mins
You'll need:
- ½ cup GF Oats Fruit & Nut Blend
- ½ cup cold milk or yoghurt
- 1 ripe peach or nectarine, sliced
- A handful of cherries, pitted
- A drizzle of honey (optional)
Method:
- Spoon the muesli into a bowl and pour over the cold milk or yoghurt.
- Top with the stone fruit and cherries.
- Finish with a drizzle of honey if you like.
3. Blend oats into your smoothie
Add a small handful of oats to your smoothie. It thickens the texture and turns a light drink into a proper breakfast. For more ideas, try our Smoothies Ebook.
RECIPE CARD
Berry Oat Breakfast Smoothie
Serves 1 · Prep 5 mins
You'll need:
- ¼ cup GF Oats Quick Oats
- 1 banana
- ½ cup frozen mixed berries
- 1 cup milk
- 1 tbsp peanut butter
Method:
- Put everything in the blender and blend until smooth.
- Add more milk if it's too thick. Pour and go.
Tip: For the smoothest result, soak the oats in the milk for 10 minutes before blending.
4. Make smarter snacks for the esky and the lunchbox
The school holidays bring hungry kids and constant grazing. Oat-based snacks like bliss balls, slices and bars are easy to make in a batch, kind to the budget, and much better than a packet of chips. Our Snack Balls Bundle and Lunchbox Snacks Ebook make it easy to start.
RECIPE CARD
No-Bake Summer Snack Balls
Makes about 16 · Prep 15 mins · Chill 30 mins
You'll need:
- 1 cup GF Oats Traditional Oats
- ½ cup peanut butter (or a nut-free spread for school lunchboxes)
- ⅓ cup honey
- ¼ cup shredded coconut
- ¼ cup GF Oats Dairy Free Chocolate Chips
Method:
- Mix everything together in a bowl until it sticks together.
- Roll tablespoons of the mixture into balls.
- Chill for 30 minutes. They keep in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 5 days.
5. Bring a healthier plate to the party
Take a tray of snack balls or a big bowl of bircher to the next get-together. You'll know there's something on the table that suits you, and your friends who avoid gluten will be glad you thought of them. If you'd rather skip the baking, a pack of our Anzac Biscuits is always welcome on the plate.
A few habits that help you stay sane
- Don't skip breakfast before a big day. A morning bowl of oats means you're less likely to overdo the canapés at night.
- Prep once, eat all week. Five jars of overnight oats on a Sunday takes about ten minutes.
- Drink your water. Summer heat and celebrations dehydrate you, so keep a bottle handy.
- Go easy on yourself. One big lunch doesn't undo your good habits. Get back to your usual routine at the next meal.
From our farm to your summer table
Our oats are grown by Kim, and by Rob and Anne, at Wandering in Western Australia. They're clean, green and pure, and their farm-to-plate story is one we're proud to share. When you choose GF Oats, you're eating something grown with care in Australian soil, whether it's in a jar, a bowl or a smoothie cup.
Start the new year feeling good
The silly season will always be busy. Looking after yourself doesn't have to be hard, though. Good breakfasts and a few smart snacks keep you going through December, so you arrive in January with energy to spare and not a sugar hangover.
Stock up for summer: our Breakfast Bundles keep the whole household sorted through the holidays. New to GF Oats? Try the Oaty Starter Pack.
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