Crunch Granola Bars

Gloria Spittel suggests that you try baking this at home

Ithink begrudgingly of granola. It has many things working against it, from the exorbitant price to its sweetness. And in some instances, there are unsavoury additions like raisins, sunflower seeds, dried coconut or papaya and walnuts. I admit that my dislike of the added nutrients is entirely subjective.

Granola is not a breakfast staple though it could be if so desired especially since it’s an easy fix on rushed mornings. However, its caloric density makes it an irregular choice for the morning meal but a low volume serving is a fun snack to have.

The shop-bought variety is nutritious, and provides a mix of oats, nuts, seeds and dried fruit. But it tends to tip the calorie per serving scale and since the serving size is too small to constitute a satisfying meal, those hunger pangs

will strike sooner rather than later. And with the addition of sweet – in the form of honey, maple syrup or sugar – the end result is a delicious bowl that’s high in sugar and calories but low on satiety depending on the portion served.

So don’t kid yourself into thinking that granola is low calorie, unless the box it comes in specifically says so and you adhere to the recommended serving size.

I still gravitate towards those boxes of granola offered in supermarkets, obsessively reading the contents to rule out the pesky additions and then groaning over the calories per serving even as I munch on the crunch of the oats.

Since I’m spending so much time, effort and money on the purchasing process, I may as well make some at home… right?

Besides, I get to experiment with it and add what I want!