A wholesome and convenient way to start your day. Rolled oats and quinoa are combined with dried fruits and seeds to provide healthy plant-based protein and fiber. Simply add boiling water and enjoy tropical paradise in every bite. Naturally vegan, plant-based, refined sugar-free, and gluten-free.
As the weather starts to turn cooler, I tend to enjoy a warm bowl of oats more than in the summer. There’s just something comforting in creamy delicious oatmeal, especially if it contains my favorite combination of tropical fruit.
I also think it’s because oats are simple and honest. Nothing pretentious. Just a wholesome combination of healthy fiber, protein, and fats that are good for you.
Oats can be very convenient, too. They don’t take long to prepare. This is especially true when instant oats come in a pre-measured packet containing loads of nutrition and flavor.
So not only is your morning less busy and stressful, oats consist of whole food that fuels your body all day long.
That’s where these DIY Tropical Paradise Instant Oatmeal Packs come in. If you aren’t familiar with the term, DIY stands for Do It Yourself. Instead of buying the pre-made packets at the grocery store, why not make your own?
The benefits and perks are endless! To start, you can adjust the salt and sugar to your needs and preference. Are you on a low salt diet or trying to reduce your sugar intake? Those instant packs at the store normally contain more salt and sugar than I want to consume for breakfast.
But another big reason I really enjoy making my own is that I get to choose the contents. I can go crazy with bits of real dried fruit.
And even better, my packets don’t contain dairy. Most instant oat packets that contain fruit also contain some type of cream or dairy product.
Arguably, I’m sure dairy-free instant oats exist somewhere, I just haven’t found them. And that’s okay. I just make them myself. That way, they’re made exactly how I want to enjoy them on a busy morning.
So let’s chat about a few key considerations and ingredients.
First, I tend to use little sealable bags. They’re super convenient and easy. I know they aren’t good for the environment, so that is a major consideration. I don’t have 14 little jars or the space to store them, at least not right now.
If you do have them and the space in your pantry, glass jars are definitely the preferred option. If you’re simply storing your instant oats in the jar, I recommend using a 6-8 ounce jar or air-tight container.
If you’d like to store and enjoy your oats in the same jar or container, a 10-12 ounce jar is much more preferable. You need plenty of space to pour in the hot water and then stir the oats in the jar. Otherwise, you may need to clean up a mess.
These DIY Tropical Paradise Instant Oatmeal Packs are extremely transportable, meaning I can take them with me when I travel. Most hotels have a tea kettle or coffee station to get hot water. I usually take my instant packs and use the coffee mug in my room. But I love the idea of using a larger sealed jar or small thermos.
This DIY Tropical Paradise Instant Oatmeal Packs is comprised of:
Rolled Oats. Oats provide loads of fiber and antioxidants and are proven to lower blood pressure and cholesterol. I use a food processor to transform rolled oats into instant oats. It’s a two-step process. First, you pulse a portion of the oats until they’re coarsely chopped. Then, process a smaller portion of oats until milled. If you use instant oats, you can skip this step altogether. If you follow a gluten-free diet or are making this for someone is, please be sure the oats you use are certified gluten-free.
Rolled Quinoa or Barley Flakes. Added for variety and protein. If you don’t have any, just process one extra cup of rolled oats in the food processor.
Coconut Milk Powder. I like using powdered coconut milk in this recipe. This adds a little flavor and creaminess to your instant oatmeal. It contains healthy fats and protein. Though, you can use any kind of powdered milk, including rice milk powder or soy milk powder. All work well in this recipe. You can also opt to use unflavored or vanilla flavored protein powder. If your protein powder is sweetened, you may want to reduce the amount of sugar used.
Sweetener. I like using coconut sugar in this recipe. Feel free to use date sugar, organic sugar, monk fruit, etc. I only use ¼ cup sugar when I make these instant oat packs. I think ¼ cup is perfectly sweet with the dried fruit and sweetener. If you prefer your oatmeal sweeter, akin to the sweetness in commercial instant oatmeal packets, you’ll probably be happier if you use ½ cup sugar. Of course, you can also sprinkle a little sugar on top or pour in a little maple syrup when you make your oatmeal.
Tropical Fruit. Filled with fiber, antioxidants, and flavor! This recipe calls for two cups of dried tropical fruit. I use pineapple, mango, papaya, raisins, and coconut. You can use flakes or shredded, though I think the finely shredded coconut works better than the flakes. If you have big sturdy coconut flakes, you may want to pulse them in the food processor since you have it out anyway.
Seeds. Chia Seeds and/or milled flax seeds are tiny little powerhouses. Tons of protein and fiber. Use either or both. Hemp hearts help balance blood sugar, lower blood pressure, and reduce cholesterol.
Salt. I actually don’t add any salt to my packets, but salt does add tremendous flavor. For this reason, most people would enjoy their oatmeal with a little salt. If you really like salt, you will probably want to increase it to one half teaspoon.
Now for the fun part!
To make these DIY Tropical Paradise Instant Oatmeal Packs, pulse the oats in two batches – one course, one fine. Then combine all of the ingredients in a large bowl.
Use a one-half dry measuring cup to scoop out the mixture and transfer to your vessel – bag or jar.
Seal the bag or jar and store in a cool dry place. I keep mine in my pantry for one to two months.
To make a bowl of Tropical Paradise Oatmeal, combine one packet of DIY Tropical Paradise Instant Oatmeal Pack with three-quarter cup of boiling water. Cover and allow to rest 2-4 minutes, or until cool enough to enjoy. Add in 1-2 Tbsp more boiling water to achieve desired consistency, if desired.
Alternatively, combine one packet of DIY Tropical Paradise Instant Oatmeal Pack with ¾ cup of water in a microwave-safe bowl. Microwave on high power for 60 to 90 seconds, stirring every 30 seconds. The time will depend greatly on your microwave’s wattage. Add in 1-2 tablespoons more water or plant milk to achieve desired consistency, if needed.
Stir and enjoy. Feel free to top with fresh fruit – fresh sliced bananas, mango, papaya, pineapple, and shredded coconut are always welcome on a bowl of oatmeal.
I hope you enjoy these DIY Tropical Paradise Instant Oatmeal Packs as much as I do.
I would love to see your results! Please leave a comment and rate it down below, tag a picture @pebblesandtoast and #pebblesandtoast on Instagram, Twitter, Pinterest, and Facebook! Enjoy!!
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Ingredients
- 5 cups rolled oats
- 1 cup rolled quinoa or barley flakes
- ½ cup unsweetened coconut milk powder**
- ¼-½ cup coconut sugar, date sugar, or organic sugar*
- 2 cup dried tropical fruit bits (coconut, pineapple, mango, papaya, raisins)***
- 1 Tbsp chia seeds and/or ground flax seeds
- 1 Tbsp hemp hearts
- ¼ tsp salt (optional)
Instructions
- In a food processor, pulse 3 cups of the rolled oats a few times. Pour pulsed oats in a large bowl.
- Back in the food processor, pulse the remaining 2 cups of the rolled oats until fine. Pour in the bowl.
- Stir in the remaining ingredients.
- Divide a ½ cup measure of the oat mixture among 14 snack-size sealable bags, small jars, or air-tight containers.
- Store sealed at room temperature for up to 2 months.
- To make oatmeal, empty one DIY oatmeal packet into a serving bowl or jar. Pour ¾ cup boiling water over top the oat mixture and stir. Cover and allow to rest 2-4 minutes, or until cool enough to enjoy. Add in 1-2 Tbsp more boiling water to achieve desired consistency, if needed.
- Alternatively, combine one packet with ¾ cup of water in a bowl. Microwave on high power for 60 to 90 seconds (depending on your wattage) stirring every 30 seconds. Add in 1-2 Tbsp more water or plant milk to achieve desired consistency, if needed.
- Add Stir and enjoy.
Notes
* I think ¼ cup is perfectly sweet with the dried fruit and sweetener. If you prefer your oatmeal sweeter, akin to the sweetness in commercial instant oatmeal packets, you may want to use ½ cup coconut sugar. You can also sprinkle a little sugar on top or pour in a little maple syrup when you make your oatmeal.
** I like using powdered coconut milk in this recipe. Though, you can use any kind of powdered milk, including rice milk powder or soy milk powder. All work well in this recipe. You can also opt to use unflavored or vanilla flavored protein powder. If your protein powder is sweetened, you may want to reduce the amount of sugar used.
*** I used ½ cup shredded coconut, ½ cup freeze-dried mango, and ½ cup dried pineapple, and ¼ cup dried papaya and ¼ cup golden raisins. For variety, feel free to add or substitute any of the tropical fruit for dried berries, cranberries, chopped walnuts, pecans, slivered almonds, pepitas, powdered peanut butter, or mini chocolate chips.
DIY Tropical Paradise Instant Oatmeal Packs
Equipment
- food processor or blender
Ingredients
- 5 cups rolled oats
- 1 cup rolled quinoa or barley flakes
- ½ cup unsweetened coconut milk powder**
- ¼-½ cup coconut sugar date sugar, or organic sugar*
- 2 cup dried tropical fruit bits coconut, pineapple, mango, papaya, raisins***
- 1 Tbsp chia seeds and/or ground flax seeds
- 1 Tbsp hemp hearts
- ¼ tsp salt optional
Instructions
- In a food processor, pulse 3 cups of the rolled oats a few times. Pour pulsed oats in a large bowl. Back in the food processor, pulse the remaining 2 cups of the rolled oats until fine. Pour in the bowl. Stir in the remaining ingredients.
- Divide a ½ cup measure of the oat mixture among 14 snack-size sealable bags, small jars, or air-tight containers.
- Store sealed at room temperature for up to 2 months.
- To make oatmeal, empty one DIY oatmeal packet into a serving bowl or jar. Pour ¾ cup boiling water over top the oat mixture and stir. Cover and allow to rest 2-4 minutes, or until cool enough to enjoy. Add in 1-2 Tbsp more boiling water to achieve desired consistency, if needed.
- Alternatively, combine one packet with ¾ cup of water in a bowl. Microwave on high power for 60 to 90 seconds (depending on your wattage) stirring every 30 seconds. Add in 1-2 Tbsp more water or plant milk to achieve desired consistency, if needed.
- Add Stir and enjoy.
Notes
** I like using powdered coconut milk in this recipe. Though, you can use any kind of powdered milk, including rice milk powder or soy milk powder. All work well in this recipe. You can also opt to use unflavored or vanilla flavored protein powder. If your protein powder is sweetened, you may want to reduce the amount of sugar used.
*** I used ½ cup shredded coconut, ½ cup freeze-dried mango, and ½ cup dried pineapple, and ¼ cup dried papaya and ¼ cup golden raisins. For variety, feel free to add or substitute any of the tropical fruit for dried berries, cranberries, chopped walnuts, pecans, slivered almonds, pepitas, powdered peanut butter, or mini chocolate chips.