Here’s another great recipe for a tasty healthy snack! And this one is quite portable too so you have no excuse for not snacking healthy! I’m talking about granola. It’s so easy to make and a lot healthier than the prepackaged bags you can buy at the store.
Start with 3 cups of quick cook oats – not the instant because those ones usually contain more sugar – then add in handfuls of any kind of unsalted seeds you like – pumpkin, sunflower, sesame, as well as any kinds of chopped up nuts you like – almonds, walnuts, pecans – stir it all together and put on a baking pan so it’s about an inch thick. Pour on a quarter cup of olive oil and a third cup of either dark honey or maple syrup, then stir it all up and press it back down on the sheet until it’s an inch thick again. Put in a 350 degree oven for about half an hour or until its golden brown, and stir every 5-10 minutes making sure to press it back down on the sheet again. You can add a little more honey or maple syrup during the stirring stage if you think it needs to be moister.
After it has come out of the oven, while it’s still hot, add in handfuls of any dried fruit you like – apricots, dates, banana, cranberries, blueberries – whatever you want – just try to get the more natural kinds, not the dried fruits with a ton of added sugar – or you can make your own dried fruit if you are lucky to have your own food dehydrator. Mix it all in, and then let it cool for a little while.
Amazingly, if kept properly this granola will last you 2-3 weeks – but I bet you’ll eat it all before that time! I like to put half in a sealable Tupperware container and then make a few zip lock bags or smaller Tupperware containers so I can eat it on the run or while sitting at my desk.
This is a great snack that you can just eat right out of the container, but it’s also fantastic if you mix it with plain yogurt or use it as a cereal by pouring milk over it.
Enjoy!