Granola Can Be Healthy!
I absolutely adore a bowl of granola for breakfast. I also love to take granola with me as a snack. Granola is a toasted mixture of rolled oats and nuts with a sweetener such as sugar, honey, or maple syrup. It may also include other goodies, such puffed rice, dried fruit, seeds, spices, flax, and/or nut butter. The nutrients in granola vary depending on the ingredients but most are a good source of micronutrients and fiber. However, certain brands will have more calories, protein, fiber, fat, and/or sugar than others. So it’s important to look out for brands that are lower in sugar, higher in fiber, and full of good healthy fats. Below are some of my favorite granolas that really fill me up and fuel me when I need a good boost.
These granolas contain healthy ingredients that offer numerous benefits, including reduced inflammation and improved blood pressure, cholesterol, blood sugar, and gut health. Bonus – I’ve shared my favorite homemade granola recipe below!
Soul Much
I am obsessed with Soul Much’s Vanilla Maple Munch Crunch. It’s the perfect snack for when I’m craving something sweet, but don’t want anything unhealthy or heavy. The balance between the vanilla and maple flavors is perfect – a combination my kids love as well. Coolest thing about this granola? Soul Much is conscious about food waste and their granola is made with upcycled almond pulp, brown rice, and quinoa.
Jessica’s Natural Foods
My family and I are huge fans of these chocolate, crunchy clusters. They’re sweet without being overpowering and make for the perfect snack. I’ll often find myself tossing a bag of the Chocolate Chip Granola in my bag when it’s a busy day for me on the go – whether I’m with the boys or by myself. A small handful of clusters is enough to give me the energy boost to see me through to my next meal.
Purely Elizabeth
Purley Elizabeth offers over ten different flavors of granola at affordable prices. My boys and I love picking out a new flavor or two to try each time we run out. This is my go-to granola when I’m searching for a topping for yogurt for myself or the boys. So far, my favorite has been the Pumpkin Cinnamon Ancient Grains flavor, it’s the perfect combination of sweet and salty and reminds me of a beautiful fall day. For the boys, it’s a tie between Chocolate Peanut Butter and the Chocolate Sea Salt Probiotic granola.
Gr8nola
Gr8nola has some amazing superfood granolas, like this Golden Turmeric, also called the Golden Spice, blend. This flavor brings sweet and savory together in a perfect combination. The turmeric and other spices help to keep inflammation down. Granola that tastes this great AND has pain relief? Sign me up!
88 Acres
I’ve been loving the 88 Acres Cinnamon & Oats Seed’Nola for breakfast. Whether I enjoy it with milk or with oatmeal, I know I’m guaranteed to enjoy my meal. These clusters are filled with pumpkin, sunflower, and ground flax seeds that pair perfectly with the maple, cinnamon, and sea salt flavors. With only 130 calories per serving, I love that I can reach for a second helping without worry or guilt. As a bonus, this granola is fodmap friendly – so I know I can safely offer it to anyone.
Homemade Recipe
Sometimes my boys and I like to make our own granola mixtures, full of our favorite flavors! This is our recipe:
INGREDIENTS
- 1/2 cup coconut or olive oil
- 1/2 cup honey or maple syrup
- 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 3 cups old-fashioned rolled oats
- 1 cup chopped nuts
- 1 cup raisins or other dried, chopped fruit
Heat oven to 300 degrees. Mix the oil, honey, cinnamon and salt. Add the oats and nuts. Spread on a baking sheet and bake for 20 minutes. Stir halfway through. Let cool and add the fruit.
I love granola for a quick snack for my family. It’s healthy without tasting “too-healthy” – especially when we grab the sweet flavors. We usually look at granola as a snack or a breakfast, but I love using it as topping for parfaits and fruit crumbles as well!
Kristin McGee is a celebrity yoga and Pilates instructor in New York City. She is currently teaching yoga with Peloton. She is the star of over 100 videos, seen in several magazines and tv shows and is a spokeswoman for many brands and causes she believes in. A proud mom to three, she sure keeps herself busy!