You love your family— but curating multiple healthy meals in one day for YEARS is relentless. If cooking burn-out threatens your enthusiasm, cut a few corners, starting with breakfast. You can elevate your healthy cooking positivity with granola. Homemade granola is the morning quick food that doesn’t compromise on nutrition.
I woke up tired and frustrated that morning. It was just before dawn when I crept downstairs to watch the sunrise from the cuddle chair in the kitchen.
Responsibilities and commitments mounted in a pile almost as high as my laundry. With my mug of coffee cradled between my palms, a feeling of melancholy and overwhelm strangled any sliver of joy that tried to emerge that morning.
Soon, the kids would wander sleepily downstairs for breakfast. That day, I didn’t have the motivation to wave my magic spatula and transform flour into pancakes.
I poked around the pantry and discovered the glass container of homemade granola. Seeing the fruit of my meal prep from weeks ago rehabilitated my mood. That morning, I needed the perfect balance of nutrition and convenience.
Uninvite sugar to breakfast
But, too often, store-bought granola contains lots of refined sugar. Here’s a tiny reminder that eating plans high in refined carbs and sugar contribute to chronic conditions.
Also, refined sugar is an enemy to your immune system. As we approach cold and flu season, it’s important to focus on foods that nourish your gut and strengthen your immune system. You want your body to pull some jujitsu moves and attack viruses and other germs.
Start your granola girl journey
The time has come for you to shake off some of the bad food habits that hold your body captive in a state of fatigue and meal plan mediocrity. Keep in mind. Homemade granola helps you demolish your sugar habit and rebuild your breakfast plan using real foods. With a handful of basic ingredients, you can serve up a nourishing morning meal without a lot of fuss.
Your new go-to cereal
In most households, cereal is already the feature menu item for breakfast. With the right granola recipe, you can transform a ho-hum breakfast into a powerhouse bowl of crunchy goodness.
Save RecipeIngredients
- 5 Cups of Organic Oatmeal (not quick cook)
- 1/2 cup of Coconut Oil or Avocado oil
- 1/2 cup of real maple syrup or honey
- 1 teaspoon sea salt
- 2 cups unsweetened shredded coconut
- 2 cups sliced almonds or a combination of nuts and seeds (sunflower, cashews, pecan, pignoli, etc.)
- 1 cup of raisins
- 1 cup of small, diced apricots
- 1 cup of dried cranberries
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350°.
- Cover a 13×18 inch baking sheet with parchment paper.
- In a large bowl, combine the oats, nuts/seeds, melted coconut oil, and maple syrup or honey.
- Toss until the oat mixture is coated and wet.
- Pour the mixture on the baking sheet.
- Spread evenly.
- Bake mixture until golden brown, approximately 15 minutes.
- Stir the mixture every 5-7 minutes to prevent edges from burning.
- Remove the mixture when done. Cool mixture. Add the dried fruit. Stir to combine.
Clever ways to use granola, other than for breakfast:
- add layers of granola to a yogurt parfait
- mix with crumb topping on an apple crisp
- sprinkle on a salad, then drizzle with balsamic vinegar
- roll banana slices in granola
- use as a topping on smoothies and smoothie bowls
- Add a layer of granola on toast with warm almond butter
Favorite granola-making resources