In my bid to get all you midlife ladies having THE best nutrition start to the day possible, I am having a bumper recipe week and giving you a delicious accompaniment to go with my Golden Milk Overnight Oats posted recently.
You’re welcome!
I don’t know about you but I love granola. But then I get all inside my head knowing the hit of refined carbohydrates I’ve just piled in my body (I find it hard to stop at a reasonably sized portion you see) and the inevitable sugar crash that is going to hit in the next 90 minutes or so. Sometimes ignorance really would be bliss….delicious, sugar-coated crunchy cereal bliss!
So imagine my delight when a couple of years ago I came across a few recipes for paleo granola and I started experimenting myself. And voila – here is my version. Higher in protein than normal granola due to the exclusion of grains and the inclusion of mountains of nuts and seeds. Feel free to have a read of my blog ‘How Important is Protein for Midlife Women’ to find out exactly why I harp on about it so much and try to make many of my midliife friendly recipes higher in protein than standard versions of some classics. Anyway, the granola is delicious on top of overnight oats, porridge (for a bit of crunch), over yoghurt or added to other cereals to balance out the protein / carbohydrate ratio.
It has had rave reviews from my acupuncturist friend and colleague at the Holistic Menopause Clinic. I don’t bring it to work anymore….or we just eat it all…quickly! On that note – it is a GREAT snack. Too great. I advise you to take ONLY a sensible portion size with you wherever you are going otherwise you may suddenly look down and you’ve eaten 4 people’s worth! Or maybe that’s just me. In any case – don’t say I didn’t warn you.
So without further ado – here is the recipe. I really hope you enjoy it.
High Protein Granola Recipe
AuthorSuzanneCategoryBreakfastsDifficultyBeginner
Preheat oven to 160 degrees and lay a sheet of baking parchment on a baking tray.
Combine all the dry ingredients and dates (except the sunflower seeds) in a large mixing bowl. If you are using other dried fruits these can be added with the sunflower seeds after the first bake two avoid them burning.
Warm the coconut oil, maple syrup and vanilla extract in a small saucepan over a low heat then pour over the dry ingredients and mix well.
Spread the mixture evenly into a thin layer on your baking tray & bake for 20 minutes in the centre of the oven.
Remove from oven, add the sunflower seeds (and dried fruit if applicable), and stir.
Increase heat to 170C and return to oven for another 5-8 minutes, or until golden brown. Keep an eye on the oven as the granola browns quickly and can start to burn.
Once the granola is visibly browned remove it from the oven and let cool completely. Store in an airtight container for up to 3-4 weeks. It can also be frozen (up to 3 months….but i doubt it will last that long!).
Ingredients
Directions
Preheat oven to 160 degrees and lay a sheet of baking parchment on a baking tray.
Combine all the dry ingredients and dates (except the sunflower seeds) in a large mixing bowl. If you are using other dried fruits these can be added with the sunflower seeds after the first bake two avoid them burning.
Warm the coconut oil, maple syrup and vanilla extract in a small saucepan over a low heat then pour over the dry ingredients and mix well.
Spread the mixture evenly into a thin layer on your baking tray & bake for 20 minutes in the centre of the oven.
Remove from oven, add the sunflower seeds (and dried fruit if applicable), and stir.
Increase heat to 170C and return to oven for another 5-8 minutes, or until golden brown. Keep an eye on the oven as the granola browns quickly and can start to burn.
Once the granola is visibly browned remove it from the oven and let cool completely. Store in an airtight container for up to 3-4 weeks. It can also be frozen (up to 3 months….but i doubt it will last that long!).
Health benefits of my High Protein Granola
- The nuts and seeds in this recipe are packed with hormone-balancing and health-promoting essential fats, calcium, magnesium, potassium, and zinc, which can all help ease menopause symptoms and protect against the chronic conditions associated with post menopause.
- Due to the high levels of phytoestrogens in flax seed, it has been found to be effective in helping to reduce mild menopausal symptoms.
- Cinnamon can help balance blood sugar levels and protect against insulin resistance, which is associated with reduced oestrogen levels in the body.
- Coconut oil can be protective against many possible health issues associated with menopause and post-menopause including heart disease, osteoporosis and dementia.
A word of warning: This is high in calories and fat, so watch your portion size if you are trying to maintain or lose weight.
Let me know what you think of this recipe and share your variations. For more like it keep an eye on the blog.
If you like what you’ve read and would like more practical information and tips on nutrition, lifestyle and mindset for midlife women then I’d love it if you followed me at motherflushingmidlife at the social links below.
