Granola is one of the worst offenders when it comes to unhealthy “health” foods. The diet industry has tricked consumers into believing that granola is a healthy, waist-friendly food, when it reality it’s almost always packed with calories, fat, and sugar!
Sure, it’s probably a healthier topping for your yogurt or ice cream than chocolate candy pieces or cookie crumbles, but not by much. And when it comes to a bowl of cereal, granola is worse than your average sugary kids’ cereal. Just a quarter cup of granola can easily have 150 calories and at the very least, 4 grams of sugar and 5 grams of fat – and that’s at the lower end. That means if you eat a bowl of this for breakfast, you could be looking at a 600-calorie start to your day!
Stop buying granola all together, and make your own. Baking a healthy, homemade version of your favorite granola lets you skip out on added sugars and cut down on the fat. Plus, you get to control what goes in it! Here’s a delicious, homemade recipe that’s lighter in calories, but not on crunch or flavor! It’s made with agave nectar instead of regular sugar, which doesn’t raise blood sugar like regular sugar does. You’ll still want to consume it in moderation; avoid eating it alone as cereal and add it to oatmeal or yogurt, instead.
Healthy Homemade Granola
Dry Ingredients:
6 cups rolled oats
2 cups of raw almonds and/or walnuts (or other nuts)
½ cup raw pumpkin seeds (or sunflower seeds)
½ flax seed
½ cup wheat germ or ground flax seed.
Optional: ½ cup unsweetened coconut,
½ cup dried fruit (add after cooked)
Wet Ingredients & seasonings:
2 individual cup unsweetened applesauce (about 1 cup total)
1/3 cup agave nectar
2 Tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
1 Tablespoon ground cinnamon
1 Tablespoon ground ginger
½ tsp salt
Preheat the oven to 300°F.
Mix the dry ingredients in a large bowl. Mix the wet ingredients together, and then stir into dry ingredients. Stir well to mix thoroughly.
Spread the mixture into two baking dishes. Bake for 35 – 40 minutes, or until evenly golden brown. Stir every 10 – 15 minutes to ensure even browning. If you use fruit, stir once it is cooled. Store in the refrigerator. See the original recipe here.
