Fruits and Nuts Granola

Do you like to have a breakfast or snack with homemade fruits and nuts granola? I do now.

Recently, I’m in the mood for healthier food like this granola. This snack is a mixture of fruits, nuts, and granola. It is popular with people who find a simple healthy breakfast or healthy snack. So, we made it at home. It is so simple, tasty, and a light snack. Are you ready to make this diet snack?

Is it right that granola is healthy snack?

In recent years granola becomes a trend of healthy foods. Granola is a type of food that consists of several components, such as oats, nuts, seeds, and dried fruits. People usually serve it with additional milk, honey, or maple syrup.

It is easy to find fruits and nuts granola at premium supermarkets or organic food stores. The label “pure” or “natural” also makes granola even more popular. Moreover, the number of people who are aware of healthy food increases. The market for this snack also spread to outdoor enthusiasts people because of its shape as a bar. That shape can easily fit into a pocket or bag.

Based on those statements, granola may be a healthy snack or an unhealthy snack. There is no definite standard in the manufacture of granola. So whether granola is healthy or not depends on the ingredients and how you make the granola.

If you look at the ingredients commonly of making granola, yes, the categorization of this food is healthy.

Oats, for example, contain soluble fiber which can lower cholesterol levels. If you consume regularly, you can reduce your risk of developing high blood pressure. The fiber in oats also helps you to feel fuller for longer. So, granola can be a choice snack for diabetics and all of you who are on a diet program.

Another ingredient in granola is nuts, which are known to be a high-fiber, slow-digesting source of vegetable protein. This means that you will feel full longer, so you can prevent eating too many foods. Moreover, nuts contain some compounds for a healthy heart like; antioxidant compounds, omega-3, and vitamin E. It will also be great for treating other health problems like diabetes, muscle cramps, and cataracts.

You can also found dried fruits in granola. The fact, it contains potassium. It is an electrolyte essential for various body processes, including cell function and muscle contraction.

Granola also contains carbohydrates. For those of you who are active people, granola is popular as a source of carbohydrates to fuel muscles and supply energy in your busy days. However, it isn’t good if you add more ‘sugar’ to granola. It can increase the sugar content in granola.

If you are on a diet plan, a bowl of granola with added sugar can be quite large in calories, up to 240 calories per half-cup.

Why do you buy fruits and nuts granola if you can make it at home?

This granola recipe that I’m going to share is our favorite. We made it when we need to lose weight. Moreover, my sister and I usually gain weight after big family gatherings, some family events, and long holidays. Those events will make our eating disorderly.

Even though granola is a healthy snack, you can make it into an unhealthy snack. Like we did, we mixed this granola with chocolate milk. We know that chocolate milk has high sugar content. But, we can’t deny its pleasure if we combine it with chocolate milk. We will forget that we are on a diet program.

By the way, it is our favorite preference. You can feel free to combine it with anything. But, in this recipe, I mix it with chocolate milk. You may like to combine this chocolate milk on your ‘cheating days’.

This is a special homemade fruits and nuts granola recipe.

This homemade fruits and nuts granola recipe is special because I combine granola with chocolate milk. Besides, I use dates honey syrup as a sweetener. Other granola recipes usually use honey as a sweetener. But, I choose to use date honey syrup. The taste will be more complex and thick. It is good for vegans too.

I also bake it twice in this recipe. In the first bake, I bake the oats & nuts. Then, mix them with dates honey syrup. After the ingredients are combined, bake it for a second time.

Why do we do double bake? It is because if you only bake it once, your granola will burn. Due to the content of sugar from dates honey syrup, oats and nuts will caramelize faster than other ingredients. Meanwhile, if you bake in a faster time, the nuts and oats won’t be baked perfectly. There will be a raw taste in granola.

The Ingredients of Fruits and Nuts Garnola

Here’s all you need for easy homemade fruits and nuts granola:

• Whole grain: For this recipe, I used rolled oats. You can use rolled oats, quinoa flakes, barley, or rye flakes.
• Nuts and Seeds: adding some protein, flavor, and texture. I use almond, cashew, and pumpkin seed (pepita).
• Fat to bind it together: I used melted coconut oil.
• Sweetener: I used a special sweetener in this recipe. It is dates honey syrup.
• Toppings: adding the sour and sweet mix dried fruits to enhance the taste and texture. Dried fruits consist of blueberry, black raisin, gold raisin, goji berry, and apricot.
• Spices: enhance the flavor with cinnamon powder and sea salt.

How to Make Fruits and Nuts Granola

Firstly, preheat oven to 175°C/350°F.

Then, combine oat, almonds, cashews, and pumpkin seeds on a baking sheet. This is the first bake to make the raw ingredients become well-done. Bake for about 10 minutes.

Wait until the nuts become a golden brown. Next, take it from the oven and put it in a big bowl.

Secondly, in a medium bowl, combine dates honey syrup, coconut oil, sea salt, and cinnamon. After that, add it to a big oat and nuts bowl and stir to combine.

Preheat oven to 150°C/300°F. Add half of the granola on a lined baking sheet with parchment paper. Spread in a thin and even layer. Bake for 15-18 minutes.

After the granola is baked, remove it from the oven and add half of the mixed dried fruits and stir to blend. And then let it rest and cool completely.

Bake the rest of the granola again on another baking sheet at the same setting and add the rest of the dried fruits.

After the granola is cooled completely, the texture will harden and become crunchy. You can break it into bite-sized pieces or bar granola.

Finally, you can savor the healthy granola as your snack or breakfast. You can store it in an airtight container for about 2 weeks. Enjoy your snack!

The Ideas to Eat Granola

There is no wrong way to enjoy granola. Granola is just as good when sprinkled as a topping, baked into a snack bar, or eaten on its own like cereal. In any case, granola is one of the most nutritious foods that can be eaten in any style. Here are some of the ways that my sisters and I try to eat granola:

1. Eaten as a snack

Granola is perfect for your snack companion all day long. Having something healthy and easy to get when you feel hungry is the most appropriate thing to change your lifestyle to be healthier. Replace your candy, donuts, or other snacks from your kitchen/living room/office table with granola.

2. As a topping for yogurt / ice cream

You can also sprinkle granola on a bowl of yogurt or ice cream. For a lighter alternative, look for non-dairy ice cream made with almonds or coconut milk. Snack time becomes more nutritious once you add the granola. You can also add chopped fresh fruit, honey, shredded coconut, whatever you like. You can even add chocolate jam if you want a cheat day.

3. Add to the Smoothie Bowl

Now smoothie bowls are popular with people, and even cafes that specialize in smoothie bowls have sprung up. You can make this smoothie bowl even more nutritious by adding granola.

4. Make a Granola Bar

Granola bars are also known as a flapjack. A granola bar can be a quick breakfast, an afternoon snack, or even a late-night snack. Granola bars are also great for hiking or other outdoor activities. Making your own granola bar can be healthier than buying it at the store because you have control of any ingredients, measurement, and techniques in it.

Here are some healthy recipe ideas:

• Hainanese chicken rice
• Edamame salad
• Shrimp and Spicy Tuna Vietnamese Spring Rolls
• Lemon Pear Dragon Fruit Smoothies