Sunday, April 16, 2017

Good, Healthy Low Fat Granola

By Scott Ellis


Some prepared cereals are tasty but not necessarily healthy. If you read labels, you may find that a bowl of mixed grains, seeds, fruits, and nuts is high calorie, loaded with sugar, and full of fat. Just switching to a commercial low-fat variety may not help. Finding the perfect low fat granola for boosting health and satisfying hunger takes a little work.

Whole grains are the foundation of granola. These should be fresh and non-GMO, so it's best to find organically grown products. Rolled oats are probably the most popular grain for cold cereals, although there are many multi-grain varieties. All grains are high in carbohydrates, but they are also sources of protein and fiber.

A bowl of rolled oats or mixed grains won't be high in fat, but it won't be especially palatable, either. Toasting can help improve flavor and texture. Spices like cinnamon and vanilla are traditional, and sugar or honey add sweetness. Fruit, nuts, and seeds add important nutrients, but these must be chosen wisely to limit calories and fats.

Fat itself is not the enemy. In fact, many of the fats found in nuts and seeds are essential nutrients which may be in short supply in many diets. Modern dieting plans often stress that it's carbs, not fats, that are the real problem. It's possible to choose nuts that are good sources for essential fatty acids but relatively low calorie, if you want the best of both worlds.

Almonds, walnuts, and pecans are so healthy they are worth eating. Macadamia nuts are very high in fats, but these are fats that are easily burned for energy rather than stored in the body. Cashews and pistachios are high-calorie nuts, as are Brazil nuts. Brazil nuts, however, are considered a great source of selenium, a trace mineral that's hard to get elsewhere.

Seeds also contain fatty acids that are important to well-being. Chia, flax, and walnuts are high in Omega-3s, the kind of fats also found in fish. Chia and flax boost fiber. Fiber helps control weight by adding bulk to the diet, which speeds digestion and makes you feel full faster. That way you eat less.

For this reason, it's good to include the most valuable foods in the breakfast mix. Dried fruit, for example, may not have much fat at all, but it's calorie dense since it's extremely high in sugar. This makes it taste great, but a little goes a long way when you're counting calories. Just a sprinkle of raisins or chopped dates will add flavor, balance the pH value of the food, and add important minerals.

Do the research and know what you want in a cereal. You may even want to buy ingredients and make your own; that way you know it will be fresh and contain nothing you don't want. Adding bran - wheat, oat, or rice - is one way to have more in your bowl but less of both fat and calories. It's easy to make a great mix. Just assemble, toss with a high-heat oil like coconut, and bake (stirring occasionally) at 300 degrees for about forty minutes until crisp and browned.




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