Everyone loves a good, classic green smoothie.

But as the temperatures begin to drop, and we find ourselves crawling out of bed with our blankets still wrapped around us, a cold smoothie is the last thing we feel like in the morning.

I’m a big breakfast person. I usually need a coffee first thing in the morning, but a hearty breakfast comes a fast second. Smoothies, for me, are a way of getting all my goodness in one meal, and help me start the day off right.

So, each year when winter approaches, I struggle to find the perfect breakfast alternative to satisfy me in the cold months. Oats are a staple—but they don’t quite do it the same way.

Recently, I thought I’d give something a try. If I put dry oats in my smoothies, why not put cooked oats in?

Here it is—the perfect, warm green smoothie bowl for winter months:

¼ cup oats
½ cup – 1 cup nondairy milk
½ or 1 banana
1 tbsp. chia, flax, or hemp seeds
1 cup spinach or kale
3 dates
1 scoop plant-based protein powder (optional)

Instructions

1. Cook the oats. A rule of thumb is a cup of water for a quarter cup of oats. I let the water boil while I gather my other ingredients, then add the oats, and bring the heat down to a simmer.

2. Nondairy milk. I prefer almond or oat milk, but coconut and soy work great too. I use ½ cup to 1 cup of nondairy milk. I’ll add this into the oats once they’re cooked.

3. Add in the fruit, seeds, dates, greens, and protein powder. Bananas are best for that rich consistency, but you can add in whatever fruit suits your fancy. I like to use Vega All-in-One Protein powder to get more nutrients in and for additional protein to keep me full throughout the morning.

4. Blend it all together. It’s as easy as that. You’ll want to make sure the oats aren’t too hot when adding them to the blender, so let them sit for a few minutes before pouring them in.

5. Pour the smoothie into a bowl. I like to top mine off with a sprinkle of cinnamon for extra comfort.

Then, grab a spoon and dig in to this creamy deliciousness.