As Danny and I have been slowly moving to alternate forms of protein, granola has become a daily staple. Danny eats it with milk, like cereal, and loves how crunchy and filling it is. I prefer snack-perfect handfuls.
For a little while, we relied on KIND's Peanut Butter Whole Grain Clusters. It is delicious, gluten-free, and contains both fiber and protein.
We do, however, also make our own recipe. It is (super) easy and pretty quick from start to finish. The following is based off of a
Shape recipe I found a few years ago.
Ingredients:
1/2-1 c peanut butter
3 c rolled oats
1/2 c quinoa
3 T honey
1 t vanilla extract
*Add ins:
cinnamon
cocoa powder
1/4 c unsalted sunflower seeds
Preheat oven to 325 degrees. Prepare baking sheets (with
Misto) for use.
Slightly melt peanut butter and honey together (microwave or stovetop). Stir.
Add vanilla extract. Add oats and quinoa; stir until coated.
Spread evenly on prepared baking sheet.
Bake approximately 7 minutes or until browning slightly.
Remove from oven. (Option: Sprinkle with cinnamon or cocoa powder.) Stir. Allow to cool.
Enjoy as a snack in the hand, a bowl of cereal with bananas, or a yogurt parfait! You an even mix it in with
trail mix. Yum!
peanut butter granola parfait with vanilla almond yogurt
Health Benefits:
Peanut Butter: though some have strong allergic reactions to peanuts, they can be part of a very healthy diet; peanuts contain heart-healthy mono-saturated fats, antioxidants, vitamin E, niacin, manganese, protein, folate, and help to protect against gallstones, stroke, Alzheimer's disease and age-related cognitive decline
Oats: lower cholesterol, reduce risk of cardiovascular issues, enhance immune response, can help assist in treatment of type 2 diabetes by stabilizing blood sugar and help lower the risk of developing type 2 diabetes, contains fiber, helps prevent cancers and childhood asthma, provides lignans
Quinoa: provides manganese, phosphorus, copper, magnesium, protein, and fiber; supplies phytonutrient, antioxidant, and ant-inflammatory benefits; may help reduce the risk for type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease, cancer, and allergy reactions
Local Honey: believed to boost immunity and reduce allergies, as well as providing vitamins B6 and C
Cinnamon: assistance with muscle spasms, bacterial and fungal infections, vomiting, the common cold, possibly lowering blood sugar, erectile dysfunction, prevention of Alzheimer's disease, and enhancing the treatment of both HIV and MS.
Labels: Mindful Eating
