I like to start my morning with a hearty cereal. Granola is at the top of my list. I could buy granola at my local grocery store, but they are often high in sugar or fat. So they’re not always the best option for me to be well naturally.
For many years, I have made my own granola. It is nutty, filling and fruit-sweet. It gives me all the energy I need for my morning work. And I never feel the urge to snack. The reason is that oats are rich in fiber, so I often turn to an oat cereal to rev me up for breakfast.
When I first started making granola, I would bake it in the oven at 250 degrees, stirring it every 15 minutes. But it was far too labor-intensive, especially since I was a busy mom with 3 active children. So I discovered that if I set my oven at its lowest setting, I could bake this overnight. And in the morning, I would wake up to the delicious aroma of almond granola wafting through the house!
So if you’re on the go like me, fill up with a bowl of almond granola. Happy cooking!
CHEF’S NOTE: If you would like to lower the fat intake, you could omit the coconut. The nutrition outlook will then be: 288 calories, 8 grams fat, 7.7 grams fiber, and 3.6 grams natural sugars. Remember, the fat will be from whole foods so this will be healthy for your heart and brain.
GLUTEN-FREE FRIENDLY: You can enjoy Almond Granola by using gluten-free rolled oats. If you cannot tolerate oats, you might try quinoa flakes, although I have not tried that option myself.
Nuts-n-Seeds HealthBites
Nuts and seeds are a powerhouse for providing essential omega-3 fatty acids, essential for maintaining heart and brain health. You don’t have to turn to fish or fish oil supplements to get your omega-3’s. They are available in a wide variety of plant foods, such as in walnuts, flaxseed, chia seed, hemp seeds, edame, and seaweed. I like to sprinkle a tablespoon of ground flaxseed on my cereals every morning to keep my body in tip-top condition.
Almond Granola
Ingredients
- 10 cups rolled oats can be gluten-free
- 1 cup wheat germ optional
- 1 cup unsweetened coconut
- 1 1/2 tsp salt or salt substitute
- 1 cup sliced or slivered almonds
- 1 cup raw sunflower seeds
- 1/2 cup water
- 2 ripe bananas or 1 can of apple juice concentrate
- 1/4 cup unsweetened applesauce
- 1 tsp almond or vanilla extract
- 1 cup raisins
Instructions
- Mix all dry ingredients in a large bowl.
- In a bowl or pitcher, add the liquids together. Pour into the dry ingredient bowl and mix well.
- Spread out the mixture on several non-stick baking sheets.
- Bake at 250 degrees overnight.
- When cool, add 1 cup of raisins. Store in an air-tight plastic container.
