The last several posts I’ve written here at Share It Fitness are related to carbohydrate nutrition. Though carbs can get a bad rap, barring clinical diagnoses there is no reason to oust one of the three macronutrients from your diet. As with fat and protein, there are more- and less-healthful sources of carbohydrates, and foods loaded in fiber and other vitamins, minerals, and nutrients your body needs—like fruit, veggies, beans, legumes, and whole grains—are all great choices in a nutritionally balanced diet.To brush up on your carb knowledge as it relates to grain foods, check out:
- The Whole (Grain) Truth
- Heathy Whole Grains (+ Thoughts on Paleo and Gluten-Free Diets)
- Five-Minute Stovetop Oatmeal (Video with Nutrition Notes)
- Healthier Carb Loading: P.K.’s Pasta and Tomato Sauce
Today I bring you an article and recipe that continues talking about carbohydrates but falls under the heading of “moderation” because, unlike meals like whole wheat pasta and oatmeal (both whole grains), granola is an energy-dense food (i.e., filled with calories). Sure, it starts with healthy whole grain oats and some other good stuff, but you need a sweetener and fat of some kind to make things all toasty and sweet.
Store-bought brands vary in ingredients hence nutrient composition, of course, but have you ever made your own? My recipe still has sugar and oil—it is granola, after all—but it comes with less sugar, a heart-healthier monounsaturated fat, and some other protein- and omega-3 fatty acid rich foods included to make this a better-for-you version.
For more info on the what, when, and why of granola and how to make it, click here for the full article.
