This Clean eating granola has been a time saving morning saviour here. There's usually a jar of it hanging around. It's versatile too: It's breakfast, it's dessert topping, it's turned into bars, it's awesome :)
Granola is one of those recipes that can get complicated quickly. The temptation to add every nut and berry known to man is overwhelming because it looks so darn good. BUT are your kids actually eating the drop dead gorgeous Granola? If yes, I'm jealous. Skip this recipe. If not, then read on.
Is Granola Clean Eating?
If your Granola is made with real food ingredients and you use an unrefined sugar in your recipe, you can count it as Clean eating.
When I make Granola, my number one goal is to give my kids an easy and tasty alternative to store bought cereals that they will actually eat. I keep it simple with minimal ingredients, but every now and again I may change it up with an extra type of nut or two, depending on what I have in my pantry.
Homemade vs Store Bought Granola
The problem with store bought Granola is the sugar. I've got no issues with having some sugars in our diet (read about why we didn't give up all sugars here) but the shop Granolas are mostly laden with refined sugar, and a lot of it.
Many I've looked at are packaged to look like the healthy choice and they even have their own section in some cereal aisles away from, you know, those cereals that don't even make an effort to fool us into thinking they're good for us to eat :) But...from a refined sugar point of view, they're often as bad or worse than the regular kids cereal.
Healthy Granola Ingredients
The basic four ingredients are: Oats, Coconut, Butter (or coconut oil) Honey and salt. (Plus one or two of the following: peanuts, sesame seeds, pumpkin or sunflower seeds)
Oats
Healthy organic oats form the base of this granola and combine it all together. It's the oats that help form those delicious little 'clumps' of granola the kids love.
Coconut
Coconut adds sweetness and texture. Either flaked or shredded coconut is fine. You can replace this with dried fruit if you prefer, raisins or sultanas, even dried banana chips work well.
Butter
I use butter in this recipe, but you can substitute the butter for coconut oil or another heart healthy oil, like Olive. Butter gives you a richer flavor, coconut oil gives you a sweeter taste and Olive oil will reduce the sweetness.
Seeds
I tend to use seeds the kids don't have in other things, or might be reluctant to try on their own. If your kids love peanuts as a snack, try putting sunflower or pumpkin seeds in instead, so they're getting a variety of seeds in their diet.
Salt
You need the salt in granola, don't be tempted to skip it! Salt brings out all the flavors, I use sea salt, and simply grind it in my fingers as I put it into the bowl.
Spice
You can add a teaspoon or two of cinnamon or mixed spice if you like. I love the earthy taste this brings to Granola, it's optional, go by your kids taste, the goal's to get them to eat it!
Granola Variations
Granola is such a great recipe to make your own. You can add to the basic recipe here whatever your family likes, leave out what they don't and you still end up with delicious, healthy granola.
Other Granola recipes:
Easy Clean Eating Granola Recipe
This is the basic recipe for Granola. Double or triple the quantities to make a batch that lasts.
Clean Eating Granola
Ingredients
- 2 Cups Oats Organic
- 1 Cup Coconut Shredded
- ¼ Cup Seeds or nuts
- ¼ Cup Butter Melted
- ¼ Cup Honey
- 1 tsp Sea salt finely ground
- 1 teaspoon Cinnamon Optional
Instructions
- Preheat Oven to 160 degrees Celsius or 300 degree Fahrenheit
- Mix all dry ingredients together
- Melt butter and honey together in a non stick pan then stir well through the dry ingredients. Make sure every last oat is coated!
- Place on flat tray and spread out evenly. Pop the tray in the oven for about 15 min. Stir twice during cooking to cook evenly throughout
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