Not all breakups end up in friendships and most don’t give you something useful out of it besides lessons learned. My last breakup gave me insight into the nutrition I didn’t know I needed in my life. Shortly after dating, Dr. Mak began experimenting in the kitchen and created a product of overnight oats. It´s nothing that doesn’t exist nor that you can´t do at home but it is a growing trend in the food industry with 2 Billion in Sales predicted for 2026 (64% of North Americans are seeking health benefits in their breakfast and its been growing). I encouraged and supported the creation and in the process ate a lot of different overnight oat recipes! At the same time as Dr. Mak creating this product, I was training for marathons and began adding it as nutrition for my long runs both before and after the runs.

Dr. Mak created the business because he clearly likes food, cooking and experimenting but he also created it for health reasons. His doctors told him he needed to lower his cholesterol so he researched and found that oats help lower it so he began making overnight oats (to save time while studying a PhD in Public Health and working full time) and he also added in more cardio exercise (running). He saw his cholesterol go down and his overall health improve! I´d say overnight oats changed his life! Since then he has learned that overnight oats also have great health benefits for those with diabetes.

While using Dr. Mak´s overnight oats I started to notice how much it was helping me through long runs. At first I used it before running which was good but all that fiber made sure I was timely with bathroom breaks before my run (30 minutes almost exactly after eating – maybe TMI?). I didn’t always want to wait to start running so I started having it after my long runs for recovery. I´m often so drained of energy after a long run that all I want to do is plop down on the floor and not move…making a meal after is hard but necessary. I started making the overnight oats and using them immediately after my long runs. I didn’t have to wait to prepare food and I could even eat it on the floor if needed ha ha. Dr. Mak´s oats often were enough to get me through post long run hell and revive me enough to go get a full meal and continue with my day! It´s now my go to post long run meal because it literally keeps my body, like, alive and running after depleting it so much plus I can easily use it while traveling and training.

Basically I’ve been using Dr. Mak’s products since the beginning and it has been my constant for over a year now on all athletic pursuits and adventures! I have tried all the original flavors (cinnamon, cacao, matcha) in their creation phase with multiple recipe changes and many milk and milk substitute varieties (I’ve never had so much milk in my life! – besides probably as an infant), I´ve seen and been a part of packaging changes and I am now trying the new flavors Dr. Mak has created (Appalachian Fog, Mocha) and helping get the word out.

I have since taken Dr. Mak´s overnight oats on other adventures besides running. I have camped, backpacked, traveled and bike toured with it as my go to breakfast. Basically, I´ve used the product on every adventure! Besides running I´ve found it excellent for traveling and camping! The packaging is excellent to travel with (small, flat, not heavy) and I´ve now taken the product around the world to China, Taiwan, Kazakhstan, Italy, Greece, Bermuda, Canada, Azerbaijan and soon I am taking it to South America! Dr. Mak´s packages fit really well into your bags and has not been an issue entering any country plus they really come in handy when your tired, out doing tourism or taking transit all day. The same goes for camping, it´s easily packable, all you need is water and you can make it right in the pack!

Preparing overnight oats is very simple, you can add water (which I do for camping) or buy a local milk (regular milk, almond, oat, all of the types) and then mix it up and leave it for about 4 hours or overnight. Obviously, if you use dairy it needs to be refrigerated but otherwise milk substitutes or water can be left unrefrigerated…for example while camping. It is nice to mix it in a bowl, mason jar or tupperware but you can also add the milk to the package…it has a fill line on the back of the package. Having tried so many different milks during the development stages of the product means I learned that my favorite is oat milk…ha oat milk with oats…yes! I recently learned though that oat milk isn´t gluten free…Dr. Mak´s product is gluten free though (organic certified gluten-free rolled oats). Dr. Mak say´s to each their own but he recommends almond milk. Obviously you can also eat the product like oatmeal, the traditional way…heated up… though I oddly have yet to try it this way (happening soon)!

How to prepare overnight oats!

My favorite flavor is Cinnamon and that hasn´t changed though now that Dr. Mak´s is made in a commercial kitchen (previously it was a home kitchen when we dated) due to growth and expansion of the business (Go Dr. Mak!), I noticed that the flavors have gotten even better!!! Besides Cinnamon, I love the seasonal Pumpkin (not like pumpkin pie, more subdue and natural) and recently tried the Appalachian Fog flavor (an ode to where Dr. Mak´s is produced – Asheville, NC, US) and that flavor is now up at the top after Cinnamon. Appalachian Fog is part of the overnight oats with caffeine in them so I personally don´t use them as often but the caffeine line has Matcha, Appalachian Fog (Earl Gray with Lavender) and Mocha.

Appalachian Fog as I mentioned is a new favorite as it has a wonderful lavender taste and floral notes in it though I will only use it sparingly because it does have caffeine. I honestly am not a big matcha fan in general but oddly find his Matcha flavor subdue enough that I find it manageable for me. I actually really enjoy it with milk and bananas….soo odd! I will advise that I do not recommend this flavor with water!! Lastly, the Mocha flavor is likely for someone who likes the chocolate flavor with a kick of caffeine. I am not a coffee drinker but I am curious and although my expectations were low, which is good for determining how good it is actually, I´d say go for Mocha if you want a dose of caffeine with the smooth chocolate flavor. Although I don´t drink coffee I have drank coffee around the world so I do know a good one when I taste it! My favorite coffee around the world has been from Ethiopia, Uganda and Honduras (NW region)…somehow I never had a good coffee in Colombia when I lived there…hum…probably because they export the good stuff! As far as caffeine I only really have it when I am doing a long adventure (long run, bike or hike day) as I generally am a person with plenty of energy and caffeine seems to chill me out more so than give me a boost. I almost forgot…the Cacao flavor is lovely but unfortunately for me it gets lost among the other great flavors I mentioned above.

Any who, all the flavors are great with added ingredients but they do already all come with Pumpkin Seeds, Chia and Flax Seeds (I get credit for this seed getting added as I mentioned it is good for hormone, fertility, menopause relief and so much more)…yeah! On the back of each packet Dr. Mak lists what he suggests you add so today I added in some pecans, walnuts and dark chocolate to the pumpkin flavor and that was absolutely delicious! I´ve also added various fruits from blueberries to pomegranate!

With sports nutrition in general I’ve noticed that I want more real foods. After years using gels for big races (marathons and triathlons) I just want something with real ingredients. Gels I have mixed in more of the plant based options like Huma and Spring (yes, even though controversial) though I still use Gu chews and other options too. Energy Bars I check all the ingredients and want natural ingredients too so currently I am on Bobo Bars and Jen´s Cafe Bars. So again, Dr. Mak´s fits that bill, I know all the ingredients and there is nothing fake in it. No, I don´t always stick to these natural options… I sure try to but I am also just an explorer by nature.

I have even compared it to other overnight oat brands as well. I think the most popular brand is Oats Over Night so when a friend had it available on a pet sit I decided to give it a try. It is way too sweet, like fake sugar sweet…but once you get past that it is edible ha ha but it just doesn´t feel natural like Dr. Mak´s. All his ingredients are natural and for sugars he adds maple sugar and coconut sugar. Dr. Mak leaves the sweetness out a bit allowing you to add whatever you wish if needed. He also doesn´t add protein into it, so there is no texture change this way and again by doing so you can add they type of protein you want to it, if that is your thing. I find it is perfect as is but adding honey or adding fruit definitely gives it a boost if you need it. I also personally don´t add protein to anything (occasionally I do add peanut butter)…I want the natural in as much of my food as possible! The other day I was disgusted to discover that even bread at the grocery store has added protein…what is the food world coming to??? Nothing against you if you add it, and maybe I should, but I am just not into it. Also, be aware, there are lots of different types of proteins out in the market and not all are great for you so having it already in a product is like going in blind with the type of protein you are eating…um yikes!

I know that this is not what I generally write about on this blog but I thought I would try something new and it actually is very related to all my travels, running, cycling and hiking. In addition, I truly support this product, I am grateful I have been part of its development process and I am very happy it has given me a lot of wonderful nutrition which is totally needed to fulfill all my adventures. In fact, I have joined as his first affiliate! What this means is that if you support the product and purchase you also support me…I now get a tiny 10% commission if someone buys through me. In the month I have done this I find I have done a lot of work to get 1 purchase lol. It made me realize how much I truly enjoy the product that all this extra effort still feels rewarding. I do hope more try out Dr. Mak´s through me and I look forward to the first stranger (non family or friend) to purchase through me! Lastly, I wanted to mention that as much as I enjoy eating Dr. Mak´s products, I´ve also found that I really enjoyed taking photos and making content with it…it kind of feels like doing so has opened up some creative side again for me…something that doesn´t feel like a job. It´s similar to what I felt working at Nike when I used to get creative with the products and taking creative photos and making personal content for that brand.

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