This 5-minute breakfast recipe helped me lose 35 pounds. Over 7 years later, I still eat it often to stay on track.

• I'm a health journalist who's been eating overnight oats multiple times a week for years. • The recipe has helped me maintain my 35-pound weight loss and is packed with fiber and protein. • Recently, I've made a few tweaks to enhance the meal's gut health benefits.

As a true breakfast lover, I often go to bed excited to wake up and eat my first meal of the day. To me, sleep is a fast track to breakfast.

Because the first bite of food is such a source of joy, I like to mix up the menu — there are far too many delicious options to limit myself.

That said, one breakfast remains a year-round staple: my overnight oats.

My overnight oats are the perfect way to start the day, providing protein, slow-release energy, carbs, healthy fats, and tons of micronutrients.

This recipe helped me