We are pleased to announce that as of March 4, 2025, an updated Rich Text Editor has been introduced in the MyFitnessPal Community. To learn more about the changes, please click here. We look forward to sharing this new feature with you!

Granola -- high calories

ypurcaro
ypurcaro Posts: 17 Member
edited March 4 in Food and Nutrition
Hello All,

I've heard that granola has high fiber and protein; so, I went to Sprout and check it out. The nutrition facts did list all the ingredient, but I noticed it's high calories. The one that I bought has 150 calories per serving (1/3 cup). I mean, I am trying to keep the calories low but then this so called high protein is high calories.Should I eat it or should I not?

Help me understand the calories count please. Thank you.

Replies

  • crystalewhite
    crystalewhite Posts: 422 Member
    I eat it, but I make sure I portion it out properly before since I can just keep eating it since it's so tasty. I like it for a mid morning or mid afternoon snack. I also make my own, I actually just went to my Sprouts last night for ingredients. Here is the one I use:

    http://www.theroastedroot.net/paleo-granola/

    The first time I made it, I measured out the nuts in dry ingredient cups and weighed them. I created a recipe in the builder on this site and I have to make this about once a week since my friends and coworkers love it too.

    Sorry, I guess I could have put the nutrition info! One batch makes about 32 1/4 cup servings at about 154 calories with 4 grams of protein.

    I don't eat it every day but I can always manage to fit it in to my daily goal.
  • AliceDark
    AliceDark Posts: 3,886 Member
    Granola typically has a lot of high-calorie ingredients (things like nuts, raisins, other dried fruit, etc.) and can have a lot of sugar and fat. It's not usually high-protein, though.
  • extra_medium
    extra_medium Posts: 1,525 Member
    It's not really all that high in protein as a rule, especially when you factor in the calorie vs. protein ratio compared to other foods. I can eat an entire bag of it in one sitting though so I usually don't keep it around. All the things that make it taste so good (lots of sugar and fat) are why it is so high in calories.
  • cw106
    cw106 Posts: 952 Member
    It's not really all that high in protein as a rule, especially when you factor in the calorie vs. protein ratio compared to other foods. I can eat an entire bag of it in one sitting though so I usually don't keep it around. All the things that make it taste so good (lots of sugar and fat) are why it is so high in calories.
    +1.
    its rolled oats with honey and added dried fruit etc.
    recommended serving sizes to be within calorie counts are miniscule, i am just using mine up as yoghurt topper( in the pot) and them im done with it.
  • Boccellin
    Boccellin Posts: 137 Member
    Olivia from myfitspiration has a great recipe for "faux-nola" lower in calories, high in protein. She uses quinoa instead of oats.
  • Missjulesdid
    Missjulesdid Posts: 1,444 Member
    I have had weight loss surgery so a small portion of (homemade healthy) granola fits into my calories and macros nicely especially at times when I'm out for a long day of cycling or hiking.. BEFORE my surgery a 1/3 cup serving would have been a joke. I would have wanted the whole bag. If you enjoy enjoy eating a small portion and it fits into your calories and macros, then definitely eat it.. If eating a small portion of it seems like a tease to you and leaves you unsatisfied, then you'll do better trying to find something else that gives you more bang for your caloric buck.
  • dbmata
    dbmata Posts: 12,950 Member
    Sure, eat it or not.

    It's high in fat. High in sugars and carbs.

    Damn it's good though, particularly when you make your own.

    As a protein source though? That would be a terrible idea.
  • ypurcaro
    ypurcaro Posts: 17 Member
    Missjulesdid: What is Macro? Thanks for sharing your opinion.
  • ypurcaro
    ypurcaro Posts: 17 Member
    Sure, eat it or not.

    It's high in fat. High in sugars and carbs.

    Damn it's good though, particularly when you make your own.

    As a protein source though? That would be a terrible idea.
    I'm glad I didn't buy a lot. :-)
  • ypurcaro
    ypurcaro Posts: 17 Member
    Thanks for sharing.
  • ypurcaro
    ypurcaro Posts: 17 Member
    It's not really all that high in protein as a rule, especially when you factor in the calorie vs. protein ratio compared to other foods. I can eat an entire bag of it in one sitting though so I usually don't keep it around. All the things that make it taste so good (lots of sugar and fat) are why it is so high in calories.
    Same here, i don't keep it around either. This is the first time I bought it.
  • ypurcaro
    ypurcaro Posts: 17 Member
    I eat it, but I make sure I portion it out properly before since I can just keep eating it since it's so tasty. I like it for a mid morning or mid afternoon snack. I also make my own, I actually just went to my Sprouts last night for ingredients. Here is the one I use:

    http://www.theroastedroot.net/paleo-granola/

    The first time I made it, I measured out the nuts in dry ingredient cups and weighed them. I created a recipe in the builder on this site and I have to make this about once a week since my friends and coworkers love it too.

    Sorry, I guess I could have put the nutrition info! One batch makes about 32 1/4 cup servings at about 154 calories with 4 grams of protein.

    I don't eat it every day but I can always manage to fit it in to my daily goal.
    What I bought is very similar to the link you posted but with some coconuts. Taste good. But, after reading all the feedback and opinions, I don't think I would want to eat Granola.
  • Missjulesdid
    Missjulesdid Posts: 1,444 Member
    Missjulesdid: What is Macro? Thanks for sharing your opinion.

    short for macrronutrient. Protein/Fat/Carbohydrate. Many of us try to fit foods into both our CALORIE allotment and our macro allotment. So depending on what else I'm eating in any given day, a food like granola, might fit into my calories for the day, but it might not fit into my macros because I might need something with more protein or fewer carbohydrates to stay in line with my preferred macro nutrient ratios for the day.
  • WalkingAlong
    WalkingAlong Posts: 4,926 Member
    I haven't eaten it in many years due to the high calories but a box at Costco caught my eye. I came home and had a small dish and it was good. So an hour or two later I had another. Then I logged it and saw 540 calories. YIKES. This might be my last box of granola for another decade!
  • woofer00
    woofer00 Posts: 123 Member
    I reserve granola for circumstances when I need calorie or energy dense foods and space/weight are at a premium - for example, backpacking or hiking. There are almost always better options for a quick bite at home.
This discussion has been closed.

Categories