Nutrient Rich Granola

Homemade granola + good fats is an excellent transition from breakfast cereal. Enjoy with whole-milk Greek yogurt or kefir for sustained energy and to avoid blood sugar spikes.

  • Quick, easy and robust breakfast
  • Never boring because there are so many combinations
    • Spices
    • Nuts/seeds
    • Dried fruits (add AFTER baking)
    • Fresh fruits – bring seasons into my breakfast bowl – berries, peaches, and plums in the summer, sweet potato and pumpkin in the fall, cranberry, and gingerbread flavor in the winter.
  • Mix into fruit salad
  • Use for chia pudding toppings
  • Sprinkle on top of oatmeal or quinoa breakfast bowls for texture contrast

Variations:

  • Almond joy: use almonds for the chopped nuts, add 2 cuts shredded, unsweetened coconut. Optional – add 1/4 teaspoon almond extract when mixing melted coconut oil and maple syrup
  • Orange Cranberry: zest 3 – 4 oranges (depending on the size and how distinct you want the orange flavor) and mix in to the oats. After baking the oatmeal, add 1 1/2 cup dried cranberries
  • Banana Bread: Add 2 pureed bananas to the melted coconut oil and maple syrup mix
  • Lemon Poppyseed: zest 3 lemons, add zest to oats. Add 1/4 cup poppyseed
  • Pumpkin pie: Add 1 tablespoon pumpkin spice mix to the oats. Mix 1 cup pumpkin puree with melted coconut oil and maple syrup
  • Moroccan Sweet Potato: Add 1/2 tablespoon Golden Milk spice blend to the oats. Add 1 cup sweet potato puree
  • Gingerbread Granola: Add 1 teaspoon ground ginger, 1 teaspoon cloves, 1/2 teaspoon nutmeg


Color My Food Granola
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Servings
8 servings
Servings
8 servings
Color My Food Granola
Print Recipe
Servings
8 servings
Servings
8 servings
Ingredients
Adjust servings: servings
Units:
Instructions
  1. Preheat oven to 325. Mix oats and cinnamon in a big bowl. Mix in chopped nuts
  2. Melt coconut oil, stir in maple syrup. Mix well
  3. Pour melted coconut oil and maple syrup over oats. Mix well.
  4. Line two baking sheets with parchment paper. Spread half of granola on each
  5. Bake at 325 for 30 minutes.
  6. Add 1 tablespoon ground flaxseed and/or hemp hearts to each serving before eating.
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Oatmeal with Pear and Pecans

In general I use rolled oats, also known as old-fashioned oats. The difference between rolled oats, steel-cut oats and instant oatmeal is how the oat graots are processed. Oat groats are the inner kernel of the grain. First the outer hull is removed exposing the groat, then the groats are steamed which gives them a longer shelf life (otherwise their natural enzymes make them go rancid). Groats are then either rolled into old-fashioned flakes or chopped into small pieces called steel-cut oats. Instant oatmeal is an extremely thin form of oat flakes. Because they are the most processed, they have a higher glycemic index value meaning that their starch is converted into sugar and released in the bloodstream more quickly. Most instant oatmeal is highly sweetend and laden with artificial flavoring and additives, making it a sweet treat rather than a healthy, satisfying breakfast.

Oats have extensive nutrional benefits, in particular the benefits of oats on blood sugar and cholesterol are well known.

For more about the health benefits of oats: Health Studies on Oats

Oatmeal with Pear and Pecans
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Variations: 1. Replace pear with apple, mango, peach, berries or other fresh or frozen fruit 2. Replace pecans with any other nut, pumpkin seeds or sunflower seeds,
Servings
2
Servings
2
Oatmeal with Pear and Pecans
Print Recipe
Variations: 1. Replace pear with apple, mango, peach, berries or other fresh or frozen fruit 2. Replace pecans with any other nut, pumpkin seeds or sunflower seeds,
Servings
2
Servings
2
Ingredients
  • 3/4 cup rolled oats
  • 1/2 teaspoon cardamom (or cinnamon), ground
  • 1 1/4 cup milk I use almond or soy milk.
  • 1 - 2 tablespoons maple syrup or honey
  • 1/2 pear cored and chopped into bite-size pieces
  • 1/4 cup pecans (or other nut) chopped
  • 1 tablespoon flaxseed ground (optional)
Adjust servings:
Units:
Instructions
  1. Mix oats and cardamom in a small saucepan, mix in milk and maple syrup (or honey) and cook over medium heat for 5 –8 minutes until the oats are tender.
  2. Sprinke ground flaxseed over oatmeal and mix in. Gently mix in pear and pecans.
  3. Add more milk or sweetener pending on your personal preference.
Recipe Notes

[su_original_recipe]

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Apple Cinnamon Oatmeal Pancakes

Pancakes made with white flour have a high glycemic index value. This means the starch is converted into sugar and released into the bloodstream quickly. It will spike your blood sugar, setting off a roller coaster as your body releases insulin as to restore balance.

Make your pancakes more nutrient-dense using whole-wheat flour, oats and apple, and always add a bit of fat from nature (chia, ground flaxseed, Greek yogurt, coconut oil or a bit of grass-fed butter)

Oats provide fiber and digest more slowly. This stabilize blood sugar levels and keeps you going longer, feeling more satisfied and energized.

Make extra to freeze for busy mornings, making a pancake “sandwich’

  • Mix 2 tablespoons cream cheese with a bit of  honey and fresh or dried berries
  • Spread nut butter and banana or other fruit
apples with cinnamon
Apple Cinnamon Oatmeal Pancakes
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Servings
12 4-inch pancakes
Servings
12 4-inch pancakes
apples with cinnamon
Apple Cinnamon Oatmeal Pancakes
Print Recipe
Servings
12 4-inch pancakes
Servings
12 4-inch pancakes
Ingredients
Toppings
Adjust servings: 4-inch pancakes
Units:
Instructions
  1. In a bowl whisk together 1 cup buttermilk and oats and let the mixture stand for 15 to 20 minutes. (You can mix the night before).
  2. In a large bowl whisk together egg, brown sugar, and apple.
  3. Stir in flour, the baking soda, salt, cinnamon, 2 tablespoons oil, and oat mixture, until well mixed.
  4. Heat a griddle over moderate heat, brush it with butter or coconut oil. Drop the batter (approximately 1/4 cup) on the griddle
  5. Cook the pancakes for 1 to 2 minutes until it starts to bubble. Flip and cook or golden and cooked through.
  6. Serve with topping of choice
Recipe Notes

NOTE:

  • Add 1/4 - 1/3 cup chopped nuts and/or 2 tablespoons of raisins for increased fiber and nutrient density
  • Exchange cinnamon for cardamom or a pinch of allspice or nutmeg

Adapted from Epicurious: Apple and Cinnamon Oatmeal Pancakes.

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