For many years I thought granola equaled healthy. I also assumed it was too much work to make it myself. I was wrong on both counts.

Myth #1 All granola is healthy. I used to go to the store and believed whatever granola I was buying had to be good for me, but further investigation led me to realize that is not the case. When I started reading ingredients more, I found that many store bought granola contains refined sugar and other ingredients I want to avoid.

Myth #2 Granola is hard to make. I never thought about making homemade granola-who has the time to make their own? When I discovered the granola I bought wasn’t doing me any favors, I began researching how to make my own. The result? I came to two conclusions:

2. I was amazed at how many recipes for homemade granola are out there in cyberspace.

I learned if you have a basic recipe, you can adjust the ingredients. After the oatmeal, you can choose whatever nut and/or fruit you prefer. Almonds are great in this recipe, but you can add any nut you prefer. Also feel free to adjust the spices. If you prefer granola with no cinnamon go ahead and leave that out. Don’t be afraid to play around with it. Experiment! That’s what makes cooking fun.

I do enjoy some sweetness to my granola, so I use coconut sugar instead of brown sugar and use organic raw honey. They are still sugar, but they are at least unrefined with a few nutrients, and raw honey also contains antioxidants. As with any added sugar, just use sparingly.

Simple Granola Recipe

• 3 Cups Oatmeal, preferably organic (regular or old-fashioned)
• 1/2 Cup Raw Almonds, use whole or coarsely chopped
• 2 Tablespoons Coconut Sugar
• 1-2 Teaspoons Cinnamon
• 1/2 Teaspoon Kosher Salt
• 1/3 Cup Raw Honey
• 1/2 Cup Organic Coconut Oil
• 1 1/2 Teaspoons Vanilla
• 1/2 Cup Raw Coconut (Optional)
• Optional: 1/4 Cup Chia Seeds and/or Sunflower Seeds (or other nuts/seeds/fruit you prefer)

Directions: Preheat oven to 300 degrees F. Mix oats, almonds, sugar, cinnamon and salt in a large bowl, set aside. Since coconut oil is solid at room temperature, heat first and then add to honey and vanilla to combine in a small bowl. Add to dry ingredients and mix well. Spread evenly on a rimmed baking sheet. Bake in the oven for 15 minutes. Take out and stir and bake for 10 additional minutes. Add coconut and seeds the last 5 minutes of baking time. Ovens are different so keep an eye on it towards the end and adjust time if needed. Cool and then put in a sealed container for up to 2 weeks.

I like to eat the granola plain, but my husband prefers eating it with coconut Greek yogurt. An added bonus for making homemade granola is the money you will save! Enjoy!

Let me know your favorite granola add-ins in the comments!