Dark Chocolate Mocha Grain-Free Granola
Simple, homemade granola that's free of added sugars, preservatives, artificial ingredients. Making it a safe and healthy breakfast option for you + your family.
First off, Happy Monday! Here we are again, back at work after a weekend filled with family, the Kentucky Derby, and beautiful weather. It’s always so tough to get the motivation to get up and workout on Monday mornings, so lately I’ve been scheduling group fitness classes to attend so I have something to hold me more accountable + guess what? It’s actually working! I think that’s something called extrinsic motivation working at its finest. I’m not convinced that I only fall into this category {as I view myself as fairly self or intrinsically motivated} but there are definitely times when I need someone else to give me an {extra push}] to get going.
That said, this morning was my first kickboxing class at 5:30am and aside from looking like a total newb, I think it went fairly well. The best part was that I was done by 6, and back home by 6:15 with plenty of time to shower, eat breakfast and causally make my way into the office.
This morning however, I didn’t choose to heat up the skillet and create my usual {Kitchen Sink Scramble} instead, and being that the weather is so warm I decided to go with cereal. I know what you’re thinking {wait, what kind of cereal is Paleo} but listen up because I’m about to share the goods with you.
How many of you are still eating cereal for breakfast every morning still fully believing that this is a healthy and nutritious option for you and your family? My hope is that nobody is still doing this, but I also wasn’t born yesterday and know the truth is that a lot of you are. Well here’s a quick tip that might just change your mind and get you looking for a real food alternative. Ready? Ok, here we go. Right now I want you to get up off your chair and go into your kitchen or pantry and grab the first box of cereal you see. Then flip it around and find the ingredient list. Ok, now count the number of ingredients in that single {healthy} box of cereal and write it down. Now, {we’re almost done, stay with me} go through the ingredients one more time and only count the ingredients that you know what they are and write that number down next to the previous number.
Did anyone else find the difference in these numbers outrageously ridiculous? Think about it… what are all of those unrecognizable ingredients doing in our food? Chemicals, artificial colors, sugar {hidden by lengthy, unrecognizable names} – they aren’t there to support a nutritious diet, they are there to act as fillers, to keep us craving more, to keep the products flying off the shelves.
Did you know that by simply combining nuts, bananas, and eggs you can create your own cereal {or granola} that is free of added sugars, preservatives, artificial ingredients and all of the other junk that fills the boxes of cereal lining the grocery store shelves?
No joke, it’s easy, nutritious and delicious and keeps our money from going to support the corporate food companies who could care less about the health status of the average American. So, I hope that you give this recipe a shot at home and realize how amazing food can make you feel when it’s made with real food ingredients.
Dark Chocolate Mocha Grain-Free Granola
Ingredients:
· 4C. Total of Raw Nuts/Seeds {I used a combination of hazelnuts, brazil nuts, walnuts, slivered almonds, and pumpkin seeds}
· 2 Bananas (green-tipped for 21DSD)
· 2 Eggs
· ½ C. Almond Meal
· 3 Tbsp. Decaf Coffee {Freshly ground for best flavor}
· 1 Tbsp. Cocoa Powder
· 1 Tsp. Sea Salt
Methods:
1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees
2. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper
3. Combine all ingredients together in a food processor and blend until well mixed {the more chunky you like your granola, the less you’ll want to blend it}
4. Thinly spread the mixture over the pan {it may take more than 1 pan} and place into the oven
5. Bake for 30-40 minutes {stirring every 10 minutes to break up the clusters}
6. Remove from the oven and allow to cool completely
7. Place in an airtight container and store in the refrigerator for 5-7 days
8. Enjoy with coconut milk or almond milk + fresh bananas {or any other way you like to eat your cereal}
Chat with me!
Do you still consume cereals as part of your normal diet? Were you shocked by the number of artificial ingredients included in this supposedly {healthy} breakfast option? Have you ever thought about making your own at home instead?
Looking for more {Real Food} breakfast options? Checkout my Paleo Banana Pumpkin Pancakes, Everything Breakfast Muffins, or Pizza Lovers Egg Bake!
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