Most often, granola is used by individuals with busy schedules or travellers. It’s a tasty snack that can come in handy, especially if you don’t have much time for cooking but want to eat healthily. Also, adding some components to your granola can make it more delicious and filling. Whether it is a homemade or a purchased version of granola, here are six ways to help you turn your granola into a more nutritious meal.
Is Granola A Healthy Type Of Food?
Granola is referred to as a breakfast cereal similar to muesli but that has a crunchier texture. It often contains various nuts, a toasted mix of oats and sweeteners like honey or dried fruits.
Granolas can also include different additives – from grains and seeds to spices and various kinds of nut butter. Some other add-ins are usually oils, syrups, chocolate chips or cocoa powder. While granola is a high-calorie type of food, its total nutritional value depends on the list of ingredients used in the product. Some granolas can be high in fat and sugar, while others provide a rich source of protein, fibre and various micronutrients.
What To Add To Your Granola?
Throw In Some Chopped Dates
This edible sweet fruit of the date palm tree is packed with vitamin B6, protein, iron, magnesium, potassium, fibre and antioxidants. It might help to reduce cholesterol, maintain bone mass, promote natural labour, improve digestive health and relieve constipation. Dates are also a great natural sweetener and energy-boosting snack that might help to treat anaemia, boost heart health and cognitive performance.
Drip A Few Drops Of CBD Oil
With its potential health benefits and healing properties, this natural supplement is considered an effective solution for both mental and physical ailments. CBD oil can be added to your bowl of granola to not only aid in sustaining a healthy, well-balanced diet but also bring many therapeutic benefits. This includes helping relieve stress, diminish pain and chronic aches, promote restful sleep and even alleviate symptoms of specific skin conditions, among other benefits.
What’s more, you can purchase ready-made options of CBD breakfast cereal or use CBD oil for pain, anxiety or other issues with the help of products like gummies, chocolate, dried fruits that also can be added to your granola.
Use Sunflower Seeds
They contain dietary fibre, folate, vitamin E, vitamin B6, magnesium, manganese, phosphorus, and copper, as well as omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids, which are vital for most functions of the body. Sunflower seeds can be useful for improving heart health, decreasing inflammation and blood sugar, promoting better skin health, reducing “bad” cholesterol and supporting the immune system.
Add Raw Pumpkin Seeds
They are edible seeds usually roasted for consumption. Pumpkin seeds are a popular healthful snack that is high in magnesium, fibre, potassium, vitamin B2, vitamin K, zinc, antioxidants and others. They help to improve sleep, boost the immune system, lower blood sugar levels, enhance bone, prostate and bladder health. Furthermore, the seeds might be useful in improving heart health by lowering high blood pressure and high cholesterol levels.
Enhance The Flavour With Vanilla Extract
This fragrant spice is a storehouse of minerals like magnesium, calcium, phosphorus, iron, and zinc, and vitamins like vitamin B2, vitamin B6, vitamin B3, as well as simple and complex sugars. Vanilla extract also contains a compound known as vanillin that possesses antioxidant, antibacterial and antidepressant qualities. Vanilla extract is known as a potential treatment of anxiety and depression, nausea, digestive problems and inflammation.
Sprinkle With A Pinch Of Sea Salt
Salt is packed with small amounts of potassium, which helps the body to absorb it better from other products. Moreover, salt keeps you hydrated, aids in sustaining healthy levels of blood pressure and helps regulate irregular heartbeat. Not to mention that sea salt contributes to the full taste of your granola.
Five Ideas For Using Your Granola
Granola is not only a yummy meal but also a versatile product that can be used in a wide variety of ways. Here are the top five ideas on how you can eat your granola.
Cereal
Granola is also a perfect substitute for sugar-rich breakfast cereals available in the market. Simply fill a bowl with delicious granola and serve with the milk of your choosing. Consider using granola with a mixture of fruits, nuts and components suggested above to get a more balanced meal and kick start your morning routine.
Yoghurt
Place your granola in a tall glass with yoghurt and top it with a few fresh fruit and berries, nuts or even chocolate shavings to make it look fresh and super delicious. This is really easy to put together in the morning for breakfast or in the afternoon for a wholesome snack.
Salads
Carrots, radishes and nuts add a refreshing crunch to your salads, but nothing beats a good old fashioned granola bar. While it will work with any salad, it is especially delicious with the vegetarian versions. However, make sure to wait until the last minute to add some batch of granola on top of the greens to appreciate the unique twist to your usual salad and max out the texture.
Trail Mix
Looking for an energy-packed trail mix but not a fan of traditional trail mix? You can easily make your own unique trail mix! Combine coconut flakes, nuts, chocolate chips, dried fruit and any other ingredients of your choice and add some granola clusters. That is it; your healthy, filling snack is ready. And you can enjoy it even when you are on the go.
Baked Goods
Cook everything from pancakes and waffles on Saturday mornings to cookies and muffins at a birthday party a little cooler by mixing your granola with the regular batter recipe. You can also sprinkle some more granola on the whipped cream or butter for the perfect finish.