This recipe is a favorite. It will leave you feeling anything but deprived and keep you full because of the wonderful healthy fats. I developed this recipe over a year ago after leading a sugar challenge. Cutting out sugar is hard because it's in so many things we eat and we become adjusted to more and more sugar. Anxiety, depression, ADHD, that hangry feeling, and digestion issues can all be improved by reducing or eliminating sugar. When you give up sugar, especially it it's your first time, it can be really helpful to eat more frequently. This helps your body adjust and begin to stabilize your blood sugar.
This Nut-Ola recipe is a play on granola but instead of grains it uses nuts and seeds. Granola style recipes and store bought granola have a lot of sugar in them, so even if you aren't on a sugar challenge this recipe can help you avoid a sugar loaded breakfast or snack.
By reducing your sugar you will notice a host of benefits including a shift in your tastebuds. Meaning things that you didn't consider sweet before, may taste sweet now. This recipe uses cinnamon which provides a touch of warmth that mimics sweetness. Cinnamon can also stimulate glycogen synthesis which is essentially a very complex process of regulating blood sugar.
This Nut-Ola is delicious by itself, over chia seed pudding, or in a bowl with some dairy free milk. I hope you enjoy it!
Cinnamon Nut-Ola
Amber Carver
Ingredients:
1 cup chopped walnuts
2 cups chopped pecans
1/2 cup sunflower seeds
1 cup of macadamia nuts
1 cup coconut flakes
1 tablespoon cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon fine grain sea salt
2 tablespoons almond butter
2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
2 tablespoons chia seeds
1/2 cup coconut oil, melted
Instructions
Preheat oven to 325 degrees F. Line one large baking sheet with parchment paper and set aside.
Mix walnuts, pecans, sunflower seeds, macadamia nuts, coconut flakes, cinnamon, and sea salt in a large bowl.
In a smaller bowl, mix together, almond butter, vanilla extract, and chia seeds. Pour in coconut oil and mix well, then pour the wet mixture all over the bowl of nuts and seeds and fold in until evenly coated.
Spread granola over baking sheet in a single layer.
Bake for 10 minutes, stir the granola, then rotate the tray. Bake for another 10 minutes until golden brown. Remove tray from the oven, let cool, and store in an airtight container.