Healthy Granola?

megs_1985
megs_1985 Posts: 199 Member
edited November 24 in Food and Nutrition
I like to eat Greek yogurt as it's high in protein but I sort of hate the texture of it by itself so I like to add some crunch to it with granola. Granola is crazy high in calories though so I was wondering if anyone had any good recipes or ideas. At least I don't pour sprinkles into it like I did when I was a (fat) kid. :D

Replies

  • livingleanlivingclean
    livingleanlivingclean Posts: 11,751 Member
    What about cereal - generally less fat than granola and adds some crunch.

    I add nuts, and seeds are nice too - they do add fat, but they taste good!
  • AnvilHead
    AnvilHead Posts: 18,343 Member
    I add Fiber One cereal to my Greek yogurt. 60 calories for 30g of cereal, which adds plenty enough crunch for me with the yogurt.
  • RodaRose
    RodaRose Posts: 9,562 Member
    Granola is crazy high in sugar and fat calories.
    Perhaps experiment with some low calorie recipes.
    Try Pinterest.com
  • RodaRose
    RodaRose Posts: 9,562 Member
    Instead of yogurt, cook a small pork chop or low fat steak for breakfast.

    Or look at recipes for egg muffins you can cook and freeze ahead of time:
  • dawn__westbury
    dawn__westbury Posts: 46 Member
    I don’t think there really is a “healthy” granola .. but 2 Greek yogurts I love are Dannon Light n Fit Toasted Coconut Vanilla with a little Nature Valley Granola (don’t need a ton) and Dannon Banana Cream with Nilla Wafers .. again the add in’s aren’t in large amounts so it fits into my calorie budget.
  • letlovebrew
    letlovebrew Posts: 1 Member
    edited January 2018
    I always make my healthy granola recipe (serves 8):

    2.5 cups of rolled oats (or 5 grain mix)
    1 cup almonds
    1 cup pecans
    1/2 cup sunflower seeds
    1/2 pepitas
    1/4 cup hemp seeds
    1/4 cup psyllium powder/husks
    1 tbsp cinnamon
    1 tsp mixed spice
    1 tsp Himalayan salt
    1/4 cup Beeotic honey
    1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil

    Mix all together and slow roast in 140°C oven for 45-55mins
    Feel free to add in coconut chips, cacao nibs, goji berries, etc. Whatever suits your taste. Should be lovely and crunchy with good source of grains, fibre and healthy fats. Perfectly paired with yoghurt (protein source).
  • kommodevaran
    kommodevaran Posts: 17,890 Member
    What you are looking for, is probably müsli - granola is just sugary müsli.
  • Christine_72
    Christine_72 Posts: 16,049 Member
    edited January 2018
    I always thought granola was what we Aussies call Muesli. Here are the ingredients to the muesli i eat.

    Organic Whole Grain Rolled Oats (70%), Organic Fruits (Sultanas (Vegetable Oil), Raisins (Vegetable Oil), Currants (Vegetable Oil)), Organic Seeds (Pepitas, Black Chia), Organic Coconut (4%), Organic Almonds.

    per 30g-

    Calories - 133
    Protein - 4g
    Fat - 7g
    Carbs - 12g
    Fibre - 4g
    Sugar - 2g

    Is this comparable to Granola?
  • kommodevaran
    kommodevaran Posts: 17,890 Member
    Christine_72 wrote: »
    I always thought granola was what we Aussies call Muesli. Here are the ingredients to the muesli i eat.

    Organic Whole Grain Rolled Oats (70%), Organic Fruits (Sultanas (Vegetable Oil), Raisins (Vegetable Oil), Currants (Vegetable Oil)), Organic Seeds (Pepitas, Black Chia), Organic Coconut (4%), Organic Almonds.

    per 30g-

    Calories - 133
    Protein - 4g
    Fat - 7g
    Carbs - 12g
    Fibre - 4g
    Sugar - 2g

    Is this comparable to Granola?
    I too believed for a long time that granola was just a fancy name for müsli (any spelling), but now I think of it more like grain candy. Your müsli fits the definition I'm used to.
  • lemurcat12
    lemurcat12 Posts: 30,886 Member
    kommodevaran wrote: »
    Christine_72 wrote: »
    I always thought granola was what we Aussies call Muesli. Here are the ingredients to the muesli i eat.

    Organic Whole Grain Rolled Oats (70%), Organic Fruits (Sultanas (Vegetable Oil), Raisins (Vegetable Oil), Currants (Vegetable Oil)), Organic Seeds (Pepitas, Black Chia), Organic Coconut (4%), Organic Almonds.

    per 30g-

    Calories - 133
    Protein - 4g
    Fat - 7g
    Carbs - 12g
    Fibre - 4g
    Sugar - 2g

    Is this comparable to Granola?
    I too believed for a long time that granola was just a fancy name for müsli (any spelling), but now I think of it more like grain candy. Your müsli fits the definition I'm used to.

    Granola is a huge range of things, and muesli (as described) would fit.

    Here are a couple of recipes:

    http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/ina-garten/homemade-granola-recipe-1940344

    http://www.recipetineats.com/homemade-granola-muesli/

    Personally, I adore this paleo granola (http://granola.kitchfix.com/grain-free-paleo-original-mix-granola/), but too many calories -- I cannot stick to a serving. I also adore walnuts + dried fruit and would call that granola (although it probably needs something like rolled oats to fit), but again, high cals.
  • livingleanlivingclean
    livingleanlivingclean Posts: 11,751 Member
    Christine_72 wrote: »
    I always thought granola was what we Aussies call Muesli. Here are the ingredients to the muesli i eat.

    Organic Whole Grain Rolled Oats (70%), Organic Fruits (Sultanas (Vegetable Oil), Raisins (Vegetable Oil), Currants (Vegetable Oil)), Organic Seeds (Pepitas, Black Chia), Organic Coconut (4%), Organic Almonds.

    per 30g-

    Calories - 133
    Protein - 4g
    Fat - 7g
    Carbs - 12g
    Fibre - 4g
    Sugar - 2g

    Is this comparable to Granola?

    I'd compare granola to toasted muesli, or clusters... Lots more fat and sugar added! What you've written sounds like raw muesli?
  • Christine_72
    Christine_72 Posts: 16,049 Member
    livingleanlivingclean wrote: »
    Christine_72 wrote: »
    I always thought granola was what we Aussies call Muesli. Here are the ingredients to the muesli i eat.

    Organic Whole Grain Rolled Oats (70%), Organic Fruits (Sultanas (Vegetable Oil), Raisins (Vegetable Oil), Currants (Vegetable Oil)), Organic Seeds (Pepitas, Black Chia), Organic Coconut (4%), Organic Almonds.

    per 30g-

    Calories - 133
    Protein - 4g
    Fat - 7g
    Carbs - 12g
    Fibre - 4g
    Sugar - 2g

    Is this comparable to Granola?

    I'd compare granola to toasted muesli, or clusters... Lots more fat and sugar added! What you've written sounds like raw muesli?

    Ah ok, thanks. Yeah I assume it's basic raw muesli.

    https://www.woolworths.com.au/shop/productdetails/931799/macro-organic-muesli-coconut

  • apullum
    apullum Posts: 4,838 Member
    AnvilHead wrote: »
    I add Fiber One cereal to my Greek yogurt. 60 calories for 30g of cereal, which adds plenty enough crunch for me with the yogurt.

    I do this too. You might also add a few chocolate chips or chopped nuts if they fit your calorie goals.
  • Christine_72
    Christine_72 Posts: 16,049 Member
    Maaan I wish we had the fibre One cereal here, I'd be so on it! We have the bars, but no cereal yet..
  • vingogly
    vingogly Posts: 1,785 Member
    I put a half serving of granola in my yogurt plus some fruit - it's plenty to give you crunch, and halves the calories. I read labels and pick a granola that's lower in calories. For example: 1/4 cup (30g) of Bear Fruit & Nut Naked Granola = 140 calories, 15g = 70 calories.
  • kemoon0915
    kemoon0915 Posts: 113 Member
    Not granola, but a good yogurt add-in is a broken up rice cake, plain or flavored depending on the yogurt
  • maryannprt
    maryannprt Posts: 152 Member
    Granola is relatively high calorie, but it's also can be full of fiber and "good" fats and it's super easy to make your own and then you can control what's in it. My basic recipe is 2 cups rolled oats 1 Tbsp coconut oil 1 Tbsp honey 1/2 cup chopped nuts 1/2 cup dried fruit for 6 servings. Warming the honey and oil just a little makes it easier to mix evenly. Spread on a shallow pan and toast in a 300 Degree oven. Depending on what kind of fruit and nuts, it's around 250-260 ccalories for a 1/2 cup serving. Our favorites are strawberry pecan or banana walnut. In my opinion 1 Tbsp each of fat and sweetener is as low as it can go. It just doesn't toast well with less. You can try other fats or oils and other sweeteners, add a little vanilla or cinnamon, put whatever you want in it. I usually eat it with milk and fruit for my breakfast. My daughter mixes it with Greek yogurt and some berries and it holds her until her lunchtime.
  • AnvilHead
    AnvilHead Posts: 18,343 Member
    dawn__westbury wrote: »
    I don’t think there really is a “healthy” granola .. but 2 Greek yogurts I love are Dannon Light n Fit Toasted Coconut Vanilla with a little Nature Valley Granola (don’t need a ton) and Dannon Banana Cream with Nilla Wafers .. again the add in’s aren’t in large amounts so it fits into my calorie budget.

    Granola (or anything else, for that matter) can be perfectly "healthy" if consumed in the proper context and dosage within one's diet.
  • Good_Morning_Glory
    Good_Morning_Glory Posts: 226 Member
    Granola is one of those foods that really made me sad when I learned to weigh. I’ve been adding All Bran to my yogurt. It fills me. For a pretty decent serving too.
  • estherdragonbat
    estherdragonbat Posts: 5,283 Member
    I crumble 1 nature valley granola bar (1/2 of a 2-bar pack) over 6 oz Greek yogurt and a cup of red seedless grapes. Typically, the whole breakfast is between 305 and 330 calories.
  • TeaBea
    TeaBea Posts: 14,517 Member
    Post Grapenuts are super crunchy (high in iron). It only takes a couple tablespoons.
  • Ideabaker
    Ideabaker Posts: 531 Member
    edited January 2018
    I add about 12 grams (a couple of tablespoons full) of Kellog's All Bran Buds, which are lighter in texture than the other fiber cereals and have a lot of crunch and a superb flavor. My local grocery stopped carrying it, but it is luckily available on Amazon. 12 grams is about 30 calories and has five grams of fiber.
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