For the past few months, my husband has kindly reminded me that I haven’t made my granola recipe in a while. I had good intentions to make it but just added it to the very long to-do list and it never made it to the top. As time went on, his reminders became more and more frequent and I figured, “Heck, if my bacon-loving, extra-cheese-please husband is ASKING for a healthy snack made with whole grain oats, I shouldn’t delay on having that available.
The more I learn about oats, the more I want to find ways to squeeze them into the food I make for my family. They are crazy good for you! Here are just some of the health benefits of oats:
- They are a storehouse of essential vitamins such as thiamin, folic acid, biotin and minerals such as zinc, selenium, copper, iron, manganese and magnesium.
- New research suggests that children between ages 2-18 years old who have a constant intake of oatmeal lowered their risk of obesity. The research found that the children who ate oatmeal were 50% less likely to become overweight, when compared to those children that did not eat it.
- Oats contain hundreds of phytochemicals (plant chemicals) which are thought to reduce a person’s risk of getting cancer.
- A daily serving of whole oats rich in soluble fibre can reduce hypertension, or high blood pressure, and so reduce the need for anti-hypertensive medication.
- Oats help keep you regular. Enough said.
- The soluble fiber in oatmeal slows down your digestive process. The result is that you’ll feel full longer, i.e. oatmeal can help you control your weight.
- New research suggests that eating oatmeal may reduce the risk for type 2 diabetes. In fact, the American Diabetes Association already recommends that people with diabetes eat grains like oats. The soluble fiber in these foods help to control blood glucose levels.
This granola recipe is household favorite! It’s simple, easy, and versatile. My husband and I like it plain and simple but you can add ingredients to it if you want (raisins, almonds, etc.). We add it to our cereal, yogurt and other breakfast foods. I also find it satisfactory for that 3 p.m. snack craving I get every day. I always double the batch when making it – this stuff goes fast in our house! I think this would also be a great food to give a new mom.
Ingredients
- 3 cups of oats (old fashioned- not quick oats)
- 1/2 cup whole wheat flour
- pinch of salt
- 1/2 cup PURE maple syrup
- 1/3 cup oil (preferably canola)
- 1 tsp vanilla
Instructions
Preheat oven to 300 degrees.
In a large bowl, stir together oats, flour and salt.
In a separate bowl, combine syrup, oil and vanilla
Pour mixture over oats and stir until well coated.
Spread oats out on greased baking sheet.
Bake 25 minutes then give your granola a stir. (add raisins or other ingredients at this point)
Bake another 25 minutes
Store in air tight container in refrigerator.
http://thrivinghomeblog.com/2012/04/grumblings-for-granola/If you poke around our recipe index a bit, you’ll find lots of other recipes with oats. Here are a few more you might be interested in:
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{ 3 comments… read them below or add one }
What temo do you bake the granola at?
Whoops- guess that is an important piece of information, huh? 300 degrees.
Just want you both to know that I am really enjoying this blog! I have tried lots of the recipes and usually get a lot out of all your posts. It’s really encouraging, practical stuff. I’m a stay at home mom of an almost two year old and have one on the way, so this stuff is all really applicable. Good job and Thanks!