I love granola! I love it on yogurt, on top of apples with peanut butter, sprinkled on top of salads, in a bowl with milk, or just as a snack to munch on! What I don't love about granola is that you have to pay top dollar for any high quality granola with good ingredients.
I've seen people make their own granola and I knew I wanted to try and make my own, but for whatever reason the idea just seemed like a daunting task...until I finally gave it a shot!
If you like Costco's Pumpkin Flaxseed Granola, I guarantee that you and your family are going to LOVE this recipe! Here's what I did!
Homemade Pumpkin Chia Seed Granola
4 cups gluten free organic oats
1/2 cup organic sprouted pumpkin seeds
1/4 cup organic chia seeds
2 tsp cinnamon
1/4 cup molasses (or coconut sugar)
1/2 cup organic pure maple syrup (or raw organic honey)
1/3 cup avocado oil (can use coconut oil too)
1 1/2 tsp vanilla
1 tsp salt
*Optional add-ins: raisins, flax seeds, chocolate chips, slivered almonds, pecans, dried fruit
Directions
Preheat oven to 325 degrees Fahrenheit. Mix all ingredients together in a large bowl. Line a cookie sheet with parchment paper and spread the granola mix out evenly across. Place in the oven and bake for 20-25 minutes (or until dry to the touch), turning halfway through. Allow to cool before storing in an airtight container. Can store for up to 2 weeks.
What I love about this granola is that you can add in whatever you'd like to make it fit your diet. I, personally, cannot have coconut, so it's been hard finding a good granola that doesn't contain shredded coconut or coconut oil. I have also noticed that brown rice doesn't sit well in my stomach, and a TON of granola's use brown rice puffs in their blends to add some extra crunch! When it came down to finding one that had good ingredients and didn't contain coconut or brown rice, it was like trying to find a needle in a haystack! Take this recipe as a guide and customize it to work for you and your body.
Let's talk about molasses, as this is most likely a sweetener that you may not have in your pantry, but after this you'll definitely want to start keeping it on hand! Molasses has a much lower glycemic load, which means it doesn't spike your blood sugar as much as other sugars, and can be a great substitute for those struggling with insulin resistance or diabetes. It contains high levels of vitamin B6, manganese, magnesium, potassium, iron and selenium.
Molasses can help alleviate symptoms of PMS due to it's high levels of iron. This can be a big deal for those of us who are looking for any relief around the bleeding phase of our cycles.
People who struggle with symptoms of anxiety and depression are often found to have low levels of B-vitamins. Molasses contains all B-vitamins, including B6, which raises levels of serotonin, a chemical the brain needs to feel happy and calm.
"Blackstrap molasses is a good source of potassium. Just 2 teaspoons a day gives you 10% of your bodies daily recommended dose of potassium. Potassium-rich foods help lower systolic blood pressure, reduce cholesterol and support a healthy cardiovascular system, in addition to helping cleanse your liver. In addition, it helps keep your body hydrated and works with with sodium to help support cellular function your bodies with your body’s sodium-potassium pump." (https://draxe.com/nutrition/blackstrap-molasses)
I am constantly blown away by how healing foods from the earth are. They all serve such incredible roles that help our bodies survive AND thrive!
Now, who's going to go make this nutritious recipe??
Happy cooking!
Love,
Danielle
P.S.
Foods are incredible and serve so many roles in our overall health. Sometimes, however, learning about each of them may feel daunting. This is why I created my 4 week, Intro to Learning Nutrition online course. To help YOU learn, in such simple and easy ways, how to utilize the food you eat to help you and your family feel your best!
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