HWN Suggests

You’re Doing It Wrong: Granola

It’s a bit baffling that granola is the poster child for health food. Its pedigree certainly looks healthy: It was supposedly invented at a spa in New York in the late 19th century; then adopted (or maybe stolen) by health-obsessed, sex-phobic John Harvey Kellogg; and finally embraced by health-obsessed, non-sex-phobic hippies in the 1960s. But its ingredients list? Not so much. Granola starts out with rolled oats, nuts, and dried fruit—so far, so good on the wholesomeness front—but takes a sharp turn for the decadent with a thick coating of fat and sugars, which turn crunchy and caramelized as the granola bakes. Granola is basically an oatmeal cookie in cereal form.

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Featured

 What Happens To Your Body When You Eat Granola

Whether eaten like cereal or used as a yogurt topping, granola can provide you with some impressive health benefits—that is, of course, as long as you're buying the right kind.

 Why Your Granola Is Really a Dessert

In 1863, Dr. James Caleb Jackson, a staunch nutrition advocate, created the world’s first recipe for what would become granola. The dish (he called it granula) consisted of dense, unsweetened bran nuggets, soaked in milk. But if Dr. Jackson were alive today, it’s unlikely he would recognize the modern incarnation of his creation. Despite its reputation as a breakfast health food, granola has become nothing less than a sweet dessert.

Articles of Interest

How to make the perfect granola

Granola – muesli with pretensions, or breakfast of the gods? Do you like it sweet and spicy, plain and puritan, or would you argue for a more savoury substitute first thing?

Granola Recipes You'll Actually Want to Make

It's full of fiber and terribly wholesome. But who knew granola could be so seductive? Try these recipes for double-almond cherry granola and a tropical twist flavored with chili, coconut and lime

How to Make Your Own Granola Without Measuring a Single Ingredient

And the template is very, very flexible. What’s the right ratio of oats to nuts and seeds? There is no right ratio! Just stir the dry ingredients until the balance of ingredients looks right to you, then add enough fat and syrup to moisten them. It’s very difficult to go wrong when you’re making granola.

Is Granola a Healthy Food?

Many people associate granola with health foods, but is it really good for you? Unfortunately, the answer is not a simple yes or no. Some types of granola can make a healthy breakfast or snack, but many varieties contain as much calories and sugar as a candy bar!

Is Granola Good for You?

It can be packed with healthy nutrients, but some brands are loaded with sugars, fat, and calories.

Is granola healthy?

Generally speaking granola is calorie dense, although it’s important to remember that the nutritional profile will vary depending on the ingredients used and the brand or recipe chosen.

Is Granola Healthy? Here's What Experts Say

“There is no one standard formula for granola, so whether it’s healthy really depends on the ingredients and how it’s made,” says Cynthia Sass, a New York and Los Angeles-based registered dietitian, by email. Granola tends to be made from whole oats, some nuts or seeds and dried fruit.

Kind granola bars aren't actually that healthy — and other "health food" surprises

You choose an energy bar over a chocolate bar. You opt for granola instead of Lucky Charms. Surely those are the healthier, more virtuous options, right? Except when they're not.

On The Hunt For The 'Love' In Granola: A Story About Loving Yourself

Why, you might ask, would any therapist encourage anyone with eating issues to bake the high-calorie breakfast treat? Because if I could share the love the FDA ordered removed, I could send home an essential message: Love not only makes food taste better, loving yourself helps you feel better, look better and eat better.

Recipe Idea: 5 Ways to DIY Granola

Love granola but don't love the additives of less-expensive granola or the cost of the high-quality stuff? Why not make your own? It's not as hard as you think! And when using your own ingredients (and imagination), the sky's the limit.

Why No Granola is Good Granola

I have only made granola for my family once or twice. However, I stopped after observing the undigestibility of consuming this non-traditional food even when seemingly prepared in a traditional fashion. Do your digestion a favor and opt out of any grain based granola entirely. Even homemade, organic, and soaked and/or sprouted versions aren’t good for your long term gut health.

Resources

9 Surprising Benefits Of Granola

... but granola can have some harmful effects on the body, and there is some controversy about eating too much of this powerful food. Granola is basically carbohydrates cooked in fat, which can produce some chemical molecules that the body cannot digest. However, different preparations of granola can result in many different chemical compositions.

Self

Various articles including how to make granola without a recipe...