This sounds so yummy! thanks mili, i'm definitely trying this. i LOVE granola but it's expensive in big bags in the store. Problem solved!

Sometimes extra calories can mean eating more than we would want to. I hate that overstuffed feeling, so to add extra calories I am going to start having an ensure plus right before bed with a PB&J. I always drink ensure pluses fast so that I can skip that extra full feeling, it tastes really good cold or room temp., they are small, and they have a variety of flavors (the knock off brands from CVS and Walmart are good too)

Ensure Plus: 350 cal.; 15g Protein; 28g fat; 50g carbs

PB&J (appx.): 327 cal.; 10g Protein; 14g fat; 42g carbs

This makes a yummy bedtime snack, and eating it at the end of your day allows your body to use the nutrients towards building your fat reserves in a healthy way as opposed to using it to provide energy to your body. Use whole wheat bread for added healthiness. Experiment with jellies and jams if you'd like (try marmalade one night and raspberry another). If you have the money you can go to a specialty store like Whole Foods and get other nut butters (you can actually pick your nuts out and they'll crush them into almond, cashew etc. butter). Ensure pluses come in 6 packs and are appx. $6, so $1/day isn't that bad.

Thank you for posting a granola recipe! I sometimes eat the store bought ones, but I'd prefer a little less sugar. I could omit the sugar altogether with your recipe!

Let's share some useful recipes and food ideas! I love making my own granola which goes something like this:


100g oats
200g apple sauce
3 tbsp honey
1/2 tbsp cinnamon
100g dried fruit, any kind
20g shredded coconut (optional)
to taste: any seeds and nuts (optional) (I like almonds personally)


You mix it all in a bowl, spread it on a baking tray in a single thin layer, and bake it at 350 for about 30 minutes. Half way through baking mix it all up on the tray and re-spread it to make sure it all gets crispy.

The above ingredients come to around 1000 calories of course it depends how much you like in one go but for my small appetite it's 4 servings which I would add fruit to. If you have a good appetite definitely it would be 2 servings.

For higher calories, substitute 2 tbsp oil for half the apple sauce and add more of the fruit, seeds and nuts.


It's gorgeous with yoghurt and fresh fruit in the morning. You can also make it into cereal bar shapes for a healthy, high calorie cereal bar.

Great ideas, I usually like drinking ensure to help up my calories too. pretty tasty!

Home made milkshakes!
I made mint chocolate chip today!
2 bananas
500ml of milk (I used whole milk even though I'm gonna regret it- I hate measuring out soya milk, looks gross)
Handful of chocolate chips
Peppermint extract
Then BLENNNNDDDD
Serves 4 people
1 serving for me adds up to 233, but of course it depends what sort of milk ect you use.
Why not try it, experiment with all fruit & flavourings .

OMG just last night i was wondering if a mint choc chip milkshake could be done!!! So excited :happy:
Could i be cheeky and add a scoop of mint choc chip ice cream? As a 'treat'
(Dont judge me)

And can i sub the bananas for something else, if so what would you suggest?