Homemade Granola Recipe

RDtipoftheday's Homemade Granola

I love breakfast! It is my favorite meal of the day. As a Registered Dietitian (RD), I get asked  "what is the most important meal?". It's breakfast! As the name suggests, you break your fast of not eating all night. It's the best way to start your day. Let's start your day with homemade granola. It's a great start to fuel your day.

Ingredients
1/4 cup canola oil
1/4 cup honey
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon nutmeg
1/4 cup water
1 Tablespoon vanilla extract
4 cups old fashion oats
1 cup chopped pecans
1 cup sliced almonds

Instructions
Combine oil, honey, sugar salt, cinnamon, nutmeg, vanilla, and water. Mix together. Add oats, pecans, and almonds. Mix until dry ingredients are coated. Place on 2, 9 x 13 half-sheets lined with parchment paper or a nonstick pastry mat. Bake at 300*F for 20-25 minutes until golden and toasty brown. Enjoy!

Here are some of my favorite ways to enjoy my homemade granola.

Strawberries & cream (well . . . vanilla yogurt) with RDTOD's homemade granola

RDTOD's granola breakfast bowl: peaches, blueberries, & yogurt 

 Red, white, and blueberry yogurt bowl

I'll be sharing more ways to enjoy granola, so stay tuned! For more recipes, encouragement, and tips for healthy eating, follow me on Pinterest, Instagram, and Twitter. 

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Quick and Fruity Breakfast Smoothie

Good morning! Do you know why it's a good morning? I had a great breakfast! I wake up and am motivated to get out of bed because of breakfast. It's a great way to start the day. I love this simple, quick smoothie to start your day in a healthy way. If you're looking for a quick breakfast, this is your recipe.

I love fruit and yogurt, which is the base of this smoothie. I love using frozen fruits for smoothies. They keep your drink cold. And, frozen fruit is a great way to eat fruit out of season and get micronutrients, like vitamins and minerals, in the winter. Fruit is picked in season. Then, frozen. Since I can't get fresh peaches and blueberries this time of year, frozen fruit is the way to go.

Here's the recipe for my Peach and Blueberry Smoothie.
1 ripe banana
1 1/4 cup frozen peaches
1/2 cup blueberries
6 ounces light vanilla yogurt (I used Yoplait yogurt.)
1/4 cup skim milk

Put all ingredients in a blender and blend until smooth. This smoothie is a gorgeous color. It has a thick, silky texture that still allows you to drink it through a straw. It's portable. It blueberryrific. It's peachy! It's a great way to start your day.  Enjoy!

I know many of you are working on your new goals and resolutions. If your goal is to eat breakfast, try this delicious smoothie. It takes very little time to prepare and is a great way to start your day.

For more recipes, encouragement, and tips for healthy eating, follow me on Pinterest, Instagram, and Twitter. 

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Healthy Snacks T.V. Segment Part 2

The last television appearance I did was on healthy snacking. I wanted to share some of the tips that I shared in the interview. And, there are some bonus tips for healthy eating as well! Check out the first segment for tips on eating healthy.

What are some examples of healthy snacks?

            Planning a healthy snack is just that; it takes just a little planning. So, buy fruits and veggies at the store at least weekly to make sure you have healthy snacks easily accessible.

I start planning a healthy snack by thinking of a fruit or vegetable that I like. Any fruit or vegetable can be a healthy snack. If you feel like a fruit or vegetable by itself will not fill you up. Try pairing your produce with something that compliments its flavor. For example, pair fruits with light yogurt, peanut butter, or cheese. Pair vegetables with a light dressing, vinaigrette, hummus, or cheese.

If you need more examples, see below. 

Apples and peanut butter

• Bananas and almonds
• Cucumbers and hummus
• Strawberries and light yogurt
• Bell pepper slices and Italian vinaigrette
• Broccoli and light string cheese
• Peaches and light yogurt
• Fruit bowl
• Tomatoes and cucumber in Italian vinaigrette

I hope this will be helpful to you and encourage healthy snacks throughout the day. I hope you remember to E.A.T healthy year-round. And, I hope you remember to make healthy choices when you are busy and on-the-go.

For even more recipes, encouragement, and tips for healthy eating, follow me on Pinterest, Instagram, and Twitter.