5 Genius ways to use mason jars for food

I've begun using mason jars for just about everything lately. Not because it's trendy, but because they are great for storing away many of my favorite foods. In fact, they've changed the way i pack my meals and made things more creative in my kitchen.

You probably have a couple laying around at home and never used it for much else–until now!

Readmore ¿Qué más?:5 Things you didn't know you could make in your rice cooker

I've used mason jars for everything from salads to juices and smoothies and haven't looked back since. Believe me, there's a lot you can use these glass jars for than just storing old nails in the garage. They can even be used to pack your kids lunches or at special events–I've seen at many weddings lately!

Below are some ideas on how you can use a mason jar for your favorite foods!

Image via Giselle_Marie16/ Instagram

Overnight oats

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Pepperlyn.com

Instead of making your oatmeal day of, you can have it made overnight–no stovetop required. All you need are the ingredients below:

1/2 cup rolled oats (not quick cooking)

1/2 cup plain Greek yogurt

2/3 cup milk

1 tablespoon chia seeds

2 to 2 1/2 tablespoons strawberry jam

1 small banana, mashed

For full recipe directions, visit Pepperlyn.com.

Mediterranean salad

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What2cook.net

This can apply to any salad, but this one in particular tastes delicious and looks great with all its different colors in layers. Below are the ingredients you will need to make the salad:

8 tablespoons red wine vinaigrette
2 cups red sugar plum tomatoes
2 cups chopped English cucumber
2 cups pitted Kalamata olives
2 cups fired-roasted red and yellow peppers, thinly sliced
2 cups red onion, chopped
2 cups crumbled feta cheese

For full recipe directions, visit What2cook.net.

Smoothies & Green juices

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Giselle_marie16/ Instagram

Sometimes you don't have time to make smoothies or fresh juices in the morning. The smart thing to do is make them the night before and store them in a well-sealed mason jar in your fridge or freezer. You can even drink from the actual glass when you're ready to have it!

Chia seed pudding

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Giselle_Marie16/Instagram

You can make regular pudding in a mason jar or you can make a healthier, no heat version with chia seeds. All you have to do is mix chia seeds with your favorite nut milk, sweeten with your favorite sweetener, and add your favorite nuts.

One great idea is this Dark chocolate coconut almond chia seed pudding recipe, you can find here.

Breakfast Parfait

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iowagirleats.com

Making your favorite parfaits for breakfast are easier in a mason jar. You can layer them with the fruits and yogurt you like for a healthy breakfast or daytime snack. This is a great fruit recipe to follow for a fast morning meal.

For the full recipe, visit iowagirleats.com.