Guiltless Granola

Happy Sunday!

I love granola...I never eat granola because I don't like the added sugar that comes with it. I crave that cinnamon aroma and crunchy, warm goodness with a splash of milk and fruit. In the cereal aisle I often stop and pick up a package of granola just to read the nutrition information and ingredients in the hopes that something has changed...it hasn't! About 15 grams of added sugar per serving.

I have friends who make granola...but the recipes they use call for brown sugar or syrups that don't fit into my eating plan. I set out to make oatmeal this morning...as I always do...but my enthusiasm wasn't there...I wanted crunch and so in a moment of inspiration this is what I came up with....

Guiltless Granola

Here's what you need:

1/2 cup OLD FASHIONED OATS
2 TBSP E.D SMITH NO SUGAR ADDED SYRUP
1/2 scoop PROTEIN POWDER
1 tsp VIRGIN COCONUT OIL
1 TBSP UNSWEETENED COCONUT FLAKES
CINNAMON to taste

Mix everthing together so oatmeal is well coated. Adjust your syrup amount to keep mix only slightly moist, but if it's too dry it will burn.

Spread out on a foil lined baking sheet...I misted it with PAM. I baked in my counter top convection oven at 350 degrees for about 10 minutes.

The aroma as it cooked was amazing. I kept a close eye on it for the last few minutes and removed just as it got that toasted look.

I let it cool for a few minutes then served with a splash of almond milk, some raisins and berries.

Here it is one more time!

Depending on a number of factors (brand of oats, protein powder, toppings etc.) This breakfast is in the neighbourhood of:

300 calories
10g fat (the belly fat reducing kind)
24g carbs (complex)
20g protein

Enjoy!

PS- Tomorrow I'm going to use chocolate protein powder and substitute natural peanut butter for the coconut oil.....

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