Antioxidant-rich simple granola
Food styling credit: Hannah Manaker
When I realized we ran out of our usual store-bought granola, I figured its a perfect time to make our own homemade batch. Store-bought granola can often be loaded with sugar, unhealthy fats, and doesn’t offer much in the nutrition department (not to mention it can be pricey!). Using what we had lying around the house, we made a super-easy antioxidant-rich granola.
Antioxidants are important to incorporate into diets throughout life, and particularly important when trying to conceive. In a paper published in Fertility and Sterility in 2018, the authors state “It is thought that oxidative stress is involved in the pathophysiology of subfertility, and antioxidants are thought to reduce the damage caused by oxidative stress. “.
I chose ingredients that contain antioxidants: oats, almonds dark chocolate chips, milled flaxseeds. We also threw in some roasted chickpeas as a test, and they ended up being a great addition and protein/fiber boost! I hope you enjoy this recipe as much as we did!
Antioxidant-rich granola
makes 5 cups. Prep time 15 minutes, Cook time 15-25 minutes (depending on whether you like soft or crunchy granola!)
Ingredients:
1 Tbsp coconut oil
1/2 cup honey
3 cups rolled oats
1/2 cup slivered almonds
1/2 cup roasted chickpeas-salted (I used Biena brand)
1 Tbsp cinnamon
1/4 tsp salt
I Tbsp Milled flax seeds (I use Manitoba Milling brand)
1/4 cup dark chocolate chips
Recipe:
Preheat oven to 325 degrees
Whisk the coconut oil with the honey until well-combined. Add the cinnamon and honey
Mix dry ingredients together (oats, almonds, chickpeas, chocolate chips, flax)
Combine dry and wet ingredients and gently mix
Line baking sheet with parchment paper and spread granola mix evenly
Bake in oven for 15 minutes if you like your granola on the softer side
(If you like more crunchy granola, stir the granola after 15 minutes and bake for another 10 minutes. Stir gently because chocolate chips will be melted!!)
Let cool and enjoy!