Protein granola, consumed as a widely popular breakfast cereal all over the world is a toasted mixture of nuts, rolled oats, sugar or honey and grains, puffed rice, seeds, dried fruits, and spices. Granola is a popular choice because it is healthy, delicious and a quick breakfast option for busy mornings.
Nutritional Value of Granola
To give you a clearer idea here is a table with the nutritional breakdown of two granola packs from two different brands:
| Nutrient | 40 grams (approx.) of Kellogg’s Low-Fat Granola | 40 grams (approx.) of True Elements Instant Breakfast Mix |
| Calories | 195 | 399 Kcal |
| Protein | 4.4 grams | 9.5 grams |
| Fat | 2.9 grams | 9.8 grams |
| Carbs | 40.5 grams | 50.8 grams |
| Fibre | 3.5 grams | 8.9 grams |
| Sugar | 14.2 grams | 15.2 grams |
Benefits of Healthy Granola
Granola is crunchy, sweet and extremely good for health. You can have it with low-fat milk, yoghurt or simply on its own, high protein granola always makes for a great snack or nutritious breakfast any time of the year. Full of fibre and good fats, here are some quick health facts about granola you should think about:
1. Weight Loss
High-fibre ingredients such as whole grains and oats present in protein granola fill you up and keep you feeling full for longer. High-fibre diets aid in healthy weight loss and lower the tendency towards constipation.
2. Disease Prevention
Dried nuts and fruits contain vitamin E which is a powerful antioxidant very important for the body. It lowers inflammation so it can be highly beneficial for chronic conditions like rheumatoid arthritis and prevents cell damage responsible for causing cancer.
3. Lowers Levels of Cholesterol
Oats which are a vital ingredient for almost all protein granola mixes contain the compound beta-glucan which has proven to lower low-density lipoprotein (LDL)/ bad cholesterol levels. Bad cholesterol, unless checked, can lead to a myriad of heart diseases by clogging blood vessels. This can be quite detrimental to your health. Consuming granola food for breakfast every day can keep you safe from developing heart conditions.
4. Important for Muscle Growth
Granola is a good and easy source of protein which you need daily to repair muscles, especially after working out. Additionally, your muscles need to be in top shape to carry out daily activities.
5. Can Stabilise Blood Pressure
A healthy granola mix contains an assortment of ingredients such as fruits and flaxseeds which can lower high blood pressure. By having granola daily or 3-4 times weekly, you can reduce your dependency on medication for regulating blood pressure.
6. Takes Care of Gut Health
Protein granola contains whole grains which are a good source of prebiotic fibre. It increases healthy gut bacteria levels as opposed to regular cereals that mostly contain refined grains.
Ways You Can Incorporate High Protein Granola for Breakfast
If you love the taste of sweet and crunchy granola food for breakfast but are wondering how to make your breakfast exciting and new daily, here are 7 unique ways you utilise your box of granola so that you have 7 new recipes to look forward to every day of the week.
1. Peanut Butter Ball
To make this, you will need two tablespoons of honey, 4 scoops of peanut butter, two big cups of high protein granola of your choice, and 3 spoons of milk. Mix everything in a bowl, make small balls out of the mixture and put it in the freezer overnight. Next morning you can have them on the go or take a few with you in a bag for some mid-day snacking.
2. With Apple Slices
Another fun way to spruce up your regular granola is to take an apple, cut it into slices, spread peanut butter on the slices, sprinkle granola, and munch away. For some added sweetness, you can even drizzle honey on the slices.
3. Plain and Simple Cereal
Having granola like regular cereal with lots of milk never gets old; if you are health conscious, you can swap cow or buffalo milk with soy milk or almond milk.
4. Combine with Oatmeal
To make your breakfast wholesome, you can make oatmeal and top it off with crunchy granola and apple slices for a munchy and sweet and sour breakfast.
5. Try Trail Mix
If your mornings are mostly busy, that is to say, you have to resort to eating your breakfast on the go, you can try an easy trail mix. Take a cup or a small box; mix roasted and chopped nuts, dried fruits, and granola. You can also add chocolate pieces into your trail mix.
6. Have with Yoghurt
If you like a light and no-fuss breakfast, you can enjoy a delicious, simple yet protein-packed granola parfait made with Greek or plain yoghurt.
7. Make a Granola Bar
Another easy-to-consume, on-the-go breakfast cum high protein granola recipe is a homemade granola bar. All you need for this delicious dish is honey, protein granola, and peanut butter. Melt the ingredients in a pan. If your mixture seems a bit dry, you can also add some milk. Spread the mixture onto a baking tray and freeze. After a couple of hours, cut it into slices and enjoy!
Conclusion
Protein granola is a highly nutritious food that ticks off all your dietary needs from protein, and fibre to fat. Add it to your breakfast or snack and make your mornings delicious.
