The Granola Tip You Need For Making Yogurt Parfaits In Advance

As enjoyable as it is to be able to have a nice leisurely breakfast, like freshly made eggs, bacon, and pancakes, it's not always possible, especially during a hectic weekday, between kids, school, work, or just life in general. That doesn't mean you have to skip breakfast, the most important meal of the day, altogether, or have to settle for a sad granola bar or a sugar-loaded donut or muffin to start off your busy day. There are breakfast options you can make ahead of time that are delicious, nutritious, and easy to grab and go as you rush out the door.

One such option is the classic yogurt parfait. Easy to make and fully customizable, they're also good for your gut (via Wellness 52), and provide protein, fiber, and healthy fats to fuel your brain and body, explains Sandford Health. Simply layer your choice of yogurt, fruit, and granola in a sealable glass jar or cup. You can make it the night before and store the yogurt parfait in the fridge overnight. The only potential downside is that over time, the granola will start to lose its crunch and become soggy. If you prefer your granola on the softer and chewier side, that won't be a problem. For everyone else, there's an easy fix, and it comes down to the granola.

Over time, moisture from the yogurt and fruit will affect the crunchiness of the granola it comes in contact with. When you're making your yogurt parfait in advance, that can become a problem. To help maintain the crunch in the granola, The Kitchn recommends using big clusters of granola, since the larger the clusters, the longer it will take the moisture to soak all the way through.

The Savory Pantry also found that layering fruit between the granola and the yogurt helped prevent the granola from getting soggy too quickly, though that does depend on the moisture content of the type of fruit you're using — avoid frozen fruit and consider adding dried fruit to cut down on moisture. You can also use Greek yogurt for your parfait instead. With its lower moisture content, Greek yogurt is less likely to affect the crunchiness of the granola. And as an added benefit, it also provides more protein than regular yogurt, and its thickness will help you construct more structured and delineated layers for a yogurt parfait that looks as good as it tastes.