PSA: You can get superfood-boosted instant oats at Target

There’s something about slow mornings, when you wake up with plenty of time to sip your matcha and munch on a bowl of oats, that helps you feel extra prepared for the day. But most weekdays (let’s be real), you’re so time-strapped you normally have to choose between brushing your hair and eating breakfast.

You’ve heard a million times that breakfast is the most important meal of the day, but according to holistic nutritionist Tara Miller, it can have a bigger impact on your day than you think.

“Starting the day with a nutrient-dense, blood sugar-balancing breakfast really helps set the tone for the day,” Miller says. “When you include a mix of protein, fat, and carbohydrates with fiber, your body digests it at a rate that not only helps keep you full longer, but also regulates things like mood, energy and focus.”

“Who doesn’t love unicorn food IRL?”

To help you tap into that brain fog-busting power (without being late for work every day) try this time-saving hack. With Purely Elizabeth®’s single-serve Vibrant Oats Cups, which are now available at Target, it’s never been more convenient to up the wellness factor of your a.m. routine—thanks to the potent superfood powders inside that paint your bowl of certified gluten-free oats.

“We wanted to introduce something fun and unique with delicious taste appeal into the dated oatmeal category,” says Purely Elizabeth founder Elizabeth Stein. “We played off of the unicorn-food trend, adding pitaya, blue spirulina, and turmeric for added antioxidant and anti-inflammatory benefits. Plus, who doesn’t love unicorn food IRL?” She has a point.

Scroll down for 3 reasons to add superfood oats to your a.m. rotation—and why you should swing by the breakfast-and-cereal aisle the next time you’re in Target.

1. Simple superfood boosts

By noshing on a cup of Vibrant Oats, you’re loading up on superfood powders that you likely wouldn’t get at mealtimes—without a visit to the smoothie bar.

And the benefits are major. The ocean-hued spirulina, a blue-green algae, packs in amino acids and omega fatty acids—whereas the saturated pink of pitaya powder (from dragonfruit) offers up immunity-boosting vitamin C and free-radical-fighting antioxidants. Golden turmeric, AKA the wellness booster you sprinkle over every dish while cooking, is known as a superstar inflammation fighter and immunity booster.

“Those crazy rainbow and sprinkled lattes all over Instagram were [our] inspiration, but instead of adding artificial food dyes and flavors, we get our colorful hues from an array of superfood powders,” Stein says. Slow clap for real food.

2. Unbeatable convenience factor

As a convenience lover, there’s no doubt you dig moseying through Target and picking up products that make your life easier (ahem, dry shampoo). So the next time you’re stocking up, you’ll want to pick up all three varieties of Vibrant Oats for those mornings when you hit snooze way too many times.

You can turn the ready-in-an-instant oatmeal cups into a hot breakfast (perfect for chilly fall mornings) by pouring in hot water or nut milk, or simply microwaving. For a make-ahead option, stir in your favorite nut milk the night before and set it in your fridge to soak overnight. It’s the easiest version of meal prep, ever.

3. Lasting brain fuel

Running out the door and calling your coffee breakfast is a timesaver, sure, but when you’re hangry at the office by 11 a.m. (and struggling to focus) you’ll probably be wishing you had eaten something a little more filling.

“Nutrient-dense foods are generally more energizing,” Miller says. “And the slow digesting properties of protein help keep blood sugar levels stable—which in turn supports focus and concentration, while reducing brain fog.”

With oats, quinoa, flax, and chia seeds in every Vibrant Oats cup, they fall squarely into the anti-hangriness camp. “Each cup is packed with eight grams of protein or more,” Stein says. “Unlike other oatmeal cups on the market that are loaded with sugar and artificial ingredients, ours is lightly sweetened with coconut sugar and only includes ingredients purposefully chosen for both their taste and benefits.”

Bump up the decadence of your oats with a generous drizzle of the warm nut butter of your choice, top with a generous portion of Purely Elizabeth Original Ancient Grain Granola (that comes in the lid for added crunch and nutrition), and breakfast is served.

In partnership with Purely Elizabeth®

Photos: Purely Elizabeth®