Granola, Anyone?
Nothing starts a day better than a healthy breakfast. Of course, the traditional American breakfast is anything but: greasy bacon, greasy eggs, fried potatoes...it's SO tasty and yet we can't live off that every day! So what makes a healthy (and filling) breakfast? Something with protein to keep you running and carbs to get you going quickly. Here are a few ideas:
~Fresh fruit (add some cottage cheese or yogurt for protein)
~Cereal and milk or yogurt (get the kind with whole grains and little to no added sugars--add it yourself--and perhaps some fruit on that)
~Egg and toast (hey, I never said eggs were bad; just don't fry them in all that bacon grease!)
I find these combinations to be easy, healthy, and light. They keep me going for a few hours and then I grab a small snack before lunch. There's just one tiny problem with my favorite: the cereal. There are so few cereals available at the grocery store (for a reasonable price) that fit the description of healthy, whole grain, no additives. So what are we to do about this? Make our own, of course!
Home-made Granola
Ingredients:
1/2 C Canola Oil
3/4 C Honey (or maple syrup or molasses)
3/4 C Brown Sugar
6 C oats (not the quick cooking kind)
4 C nuts (cashews, almonds, walnuts, etc. mix and match!)
2 C dried fruit (raisins, craisins, blueberries...)
Directions:
Mix dry ingredients well in a large bowl. In a separate bowl, mix the oil and sugars until well blended. Add to dry mixture and mix until everything is coated.
Spread onto two sheet pans and toast in a 250 degree oven for 1 hour, stirring every 20 minutes. Bake until golden brown, then let cool, occasionally breaking up the large clumps but leaving the smaller clusters.
This tastes great with milk or yogurt, or just as a healthy snack! Experiment with different nuts, seeds, and flavors of honey/sugar to fit your tastes!
~Fresh fruit (add some cottage cheese or yogurt for protein)
~Cereal and milk or yogurt (get the kind with whole grains and little to no added sugars--add it yourself--and perhaps some fruit on that)
~Egg and toast (hey, I never said eggs were bad; just don't fry them in all that bacon grease!)
I find these combinations to be easy, healthy, and light. They keep me going for a few hours and then I grab a small snack before lunch. There's just one tiny problem with my favorite: the cereal. There are so few cereals available at the grocery store (for a reasonable price) that fit the description of healthy, whole grain, no additives. So what are we to do about this? Make our own, of course!
Home-made Granola
Ingredients:
1/2 C Canola Oil
3/4 C Honey (or maple syrup or molasses)
3/4 C Brown Sugar
6 C oats (not the quick cooking kind)
4 C nuts (cashews, almonds, walnuts, etc. mix and match!)
2 C dried fruit (raisins, craisins, blueberries...)
Directions:
Mix dry ingredients well in a large bowl. In a separate bowl, mix the oil and sugars until well blended. Add to dry mixture and mix until everything is coated.
Spread onto two sheet pans and toast in a 250 degree oven for 1 hour, stirring every 20 minutes. Bake until golden brown, then let cool, occasionally breaking up the large clumps but leaving the smaller clusters.
This tastes great with milk or yogurt, or just as a healthy snack! Experiment with different nuts, seeds, and flavors of honey/sugar to fit your tastes!