Why I love making my Overnight Wellness Breakfast Jars
There is something incredibly satisfying about creating food that not only looks beautiful but genuinely nourishes your body.
Whenever my breakfast jars start running low, I set aside a little time to make another batch. I usually prepare three jars at a time, which is just enough to keep me going for the next few breakfasts without spending hours meal prepping.
Oddly enough, making them has become one of my favourite little rituals.
There's something incredibly calming about watching each layer come together – the wholesome oats, creamy Skyr, colourful berries, crunchy nuts and seeds. Every ingredient has its own place, and by the time the jars are finished, they almost look too good to eat.
Almost!
Preparing them in advance means that on busy mornings, or on days when my energy isn't at its best, I already have a nourishing breakfast waiting for me in the fridge. Living with Hypermobile Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome (hEDS) and digestive challenges means I have to be a little more intentional about what I eat, and these jars make that so much easier.
Nature really has done the hard work here. My job is simply to layer everything together and let time do the rest.
Every Layer Has a Purpose
These jars aren't just colourful – every ingredient has been chosen because it brings something valuable to the body.
🥣 Rolled Oats
Oats provide slow-release carbohydrates that help release energy steadily throughout the morning, making them a wonderful breakfast choice.
The soluble fibre found in oats also helps support healthy cholesterol levels while feeding the beneficial bacteria that live in our gut.
Oats are naturally rich in:
- Beta-glucan fibre
- Manganese
- Magnesium
- Iron
- Zinc
- Phosphorus
- B Vitamins
🍎 Ísey Skyr – Baked Apple
Skyr is one of my favourite ingredients because it's naturally high in protein while remaining low in fat.
Protein helps keep you fuller for longer, supports muscle maintenance and repair, and provides a wonderful creamy base for the jars. Retain a little for the topping later!
It provides:
- High-quality complete protein
- Calcium
- Vitamin B12
- Riboflavin (Vitamin B2)
- Potassium
🍓 Frozen Mixed Berries
I always use frozen blackberries, blueberries and strawberries rather than fresh.
Frozen berries are picked at their peak ripeness and frozen shortly afterwards, helping to preserve many of their vitamins, minerals and antioxidants. They're available all year round, reduce food waste and are often much kinder on the shopping budget too.
One of my favourite things about using frozen berries is what happens overnight. As they slowly thaw in the fridge, they release their natural juices into the yoghurt and oats, making the jars beautifully moist, naturally sweet and wonderfully colourful.
Red Berries are naturally packed with:
- Vitamin C
- Vitamin K
- Fibre
- Manganese
- Anthocyanins (powerful antioxidants)
- Polyphenols (beneficial plant compounds)
These nutrients help support our immune system, heart health, brain health and help protect our cells from everyday oxidative stress.
🌰 Walnuts
Walnuts are one of the healthiest nuts you can eat and provide an excellent source of healthy fats.
Healthy fats help support both brain and heart health while making breakfast much more satisfying.
Walnuts are rich in:
- Plant Omega-3 (ALA)
- Magnesium
- Copper
- Manganese
- Vitamin E
- Polyphenols
🌰 Almonds
Just a small handful adds crunch along with a surprising amount of nutrition.
Vitamin E is particularly important for helping protect our cells from oxidative damage.
Almonds provide:
- Vitamin E
- Magnesium
- Calcium
- Protein
- Healthy monounsaturated fats
🫐 Piątnica Blueberry Skyr Drink
I add a little drinkable Skyr to make the mixture even creamier.
Our gut does so much more than simply digest food, so I love including ingredients that help support it.
As well as adding extra protein, it contains live yoghurt cultures (probiotics), which help support:
- A healthy gut microbiome
- Digestion
- Nutrient absorption
- Immune function
🎃 Pumpkin Seeds
Tiny seeds with huge nutritional value.
Magnesium is involved in hundreds of processes throughout the body, including muscle function, nerve function and energy production.
Pumpkin Seeds are naturally rich in:
- Magnesium
- Zinc
- Iron
- Copper
- Manganese
- Plant protein
🌱 Chia Seeds
Although I only use a small amount, chia seeds are incredibly nutrient dense.
As they absorb moisture overnight they also help create that lovely thick, creamy texture.
Chia Seeds contribute:
- Fibre
- Plant Omega-3 fats
- Calcium
- Magnesium
- Phosphorus
- Antioxidants
🍇 Goji Berries
Just five goji berries are enough to add a touch of natural sweetness, vibrant colour and a gentle nutritional boost. They may be small, but they're one of nature's most nutrient-dense fruits.
Benefits
- Rich in antioxidants
- Vitamin A (Beta-carotene)
- Vitamin C
- Iron
- Fibre
❤️ No Added Sugar Cranberry Juice
I add just a small splash of No Added Sugar Cranberry Juice.
Its main purpose isn't really for the flavour—it's to add a little extra moisture to the jar. As everything rests overnight, the oats soften, the berries release their juices, and the cranberry juice helps bring everything together beautifully.
It adds a lovely fresh, fruity tang without making the jars overly sweet or adding unnecessary sugar.
Why I Love Making My Overnight Oats
There's something wonderfully therapeutic about preparing these jars.
For twenty or thirty minutes I simply slow down, layer each ingredient with care, and enjoy watching every jar come to life.
It's a small act of self-care.
When they're finished and lined up in the fridge, I know that future me has a healthy, delicious breakfast waiting, even on the mornings when I don't have the time or energy to prepare something from scratch.
Opening the fridge and seeing those colourful jars waiting for me always makes me smile.
More Than Just Breakfast
Healthy eating doesn't have to be restrictive.
It doesn't have to mean expensive superfoods or complicated recipes.
Sometimes it's simply about taking a little time when you have the energy, so that your future self has one less thing to think about.
For me, these Overnight Wellness Breakfast Jars are exactly that.
They're colourful.
They're filling.
They're packed with nutrients.
They're delicious.
Most importantly...
I genuinely look forward to eating them.
And I think that's one of the biggest secrets to healthy eating - creating meals you truly enjoy.
"Small daily habits have a wonderful way of becoming lifelong acts of self-care."
✨ Joanne's Tip
These jars keep perfectly in the fridge for up to 3 days, making them ideal for busy mornings. I make three at a time so breakfast is always ready when I need it.
Nutritional Information
Approximate nutrition per jar
🔥 Calories: ~430 kcal
💪 Protein: 22–24g
🌾 Fibre: 10–12g
🍚 Carbohydrates: 36–39g
🥜 Healthy fats: 18–20g
A balanced breakfast packed with protein, fibre, healthy fats, vitamins, minerals, antioxidants and probiotics to help nourish your body and keep you feeling satisfied throughout the morning.
Recipe Instructions
- Add the oats to the bottom of your jar (25g).
- Pour in the Skyr (100g baked apple Skyr and 25g blueberry drinkable Skyr).
- Layer with frozen berries – blackberries, blueberries and strawberries.
- Add the nuts – chopped walnuts and almonds.
- Sprinkle over the seeds – pumpkin seeds and chia seeds.
- Scatter a few goji berries on top.
- Finish with a small splash (13–15ml) of no added sugar cranberry juice to keep everything beautifully moist as it chills.
- Seal and refrigerate overnight.
✨ By morning, the oats will have softened, the frozen berries will have naturally thawed and released their juices, and all the flavours will have blended together into a delicious, nutritious breakfast that's ready to enjoy.
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