Paleo granola
I haven’t really been talking about it here but I’m still eating paleo most of the time (ie avoiding grains, starches, legumes, refined sugars, and dairy). As you can tell by what I’ve been posting, I’m not strict on it, and tend to have one/two meals a week that’s non-paleo. Last week was a blow out because it was birthday week, but I’m back on the train. Choo choo!
The reason I haven’t really talked about it much here is because I think it’s boring – who gives a shit about what I don’t eat? 🙂 But I do want to say that I feel so much better eating paleo. My digestion is better and I don’t suffer from sugar / cake / junk food cravings anymore. It’s very freeing! I (obviously) still enjoy the occasional indulgence. But when I do it’s a conscious choice for something worthwhile and delicious, and not just because it fills my stomach or satisfies an emotional craving. I do intend to stay on this indefinitely, but never fear, there’ll still be cake and dessert posts!
A really common question I get asked is: what do you eat for breakfast? Breakfast seems to be the hardest meal because normal brekkies are normally very grain heavy. I now have a few breakfasts that I make variations of and rotate through: mainly eggs, green smoothies and paleo granola.
Paleo granola isn’t real granola at all – it’s just a mixture of chopped up nuts and seeds with a bit of honey and spices. It’s really tasty though, and it’s also incredibly filling – I eat it with a bit of coconut milk and some fruit, and a small amount keeps me sated for hours.
There’re a ton of recipes online for paleo granola, but this a general rough guide to what I do – it can be made with any combination of nuts and seeds. I cut down the honey a lot (many recipes ask for 1/2 cup of honey) because the honey makes it very moreish – Thanh can attest to that. Every time he eats paleo granola, a kitten dies. And a lot of kittens have died so far.
Ingredients
- 1 cup cashews
- 1 cup raw almonds
- ½ cup pistachio kernels
- ½ cup pumpkin seeds
- A teaspoon of cinnamon
- 1 cup shredded coconut
- A couple of tablespoons honey
Instructions
- Heat the oven to 180°C.
- In a food processor, add the nuts, seeds and cinnamon. Give them a quick blitz to roughly chop into smallish bits. Add the coconut and give it a very quick pulse just to combine.
- Spread the nut mixture out on a tray, and drizzle the honey over it.
- Bake in the oven for about 10-15 minutes, or until toasty. Keep an eye on them to make sure the nuts don’t burn.
- Allow to cool and pour into a jar, breaking up any clumps as necessary.
- Eat with your choice of fruit and milk/non-milk. A small amount is very filling and calorific, so don’t go crazy.
December 20, 2011 @ 7:47 pm
Looking Great and very delicious . many thanks for sharing
December 21, 2011 @ 9:04 pm
Thanks!
December 20, 2011 @ 9:26 pm
That’s quite an interesting breakfast with the combination of nuts and coconut milk. I like reading about special diets, even if I don’t follow any myself.
December 21, 2011 @ 9:05 pm
I use coconut milk as a milk substitute in smoothies and paleo granola 🙂
December 20, 2011 @ 10:35 pm
That’s a ton of nuts indeed! Not sure whether I can restrain myself from eating a larger amount. 😉 Love how it’s roasted in the oven and blitzed.
Is soy milk Paleo? Maybe I should one day make the effort to make homemade granola, paleo or not.
And I laughed at your comment about a kitten dying everytime Thanh eats a paleo granola. Don’t even understand why kittens?
December 21, 2011 @ 9:11 pm
Noooo soy milk is definitely not paleo. Soy is a legume. That’s why I gave up soy coffees… that was probably the hardest thing – learning to drink my coffee black! 😉
I think Shellie came up with the kittens dying thing and now it’s a running joke.
December 21, 2011 @ 1:49 pm
All those poor kittens! Doesn’t Thanh think of the kittens?!
Would never guess your granola was all nuts and seeds from the look of it! My mum would love this!
December 21, 2011 @ 9:13 pm
It’s so delish – I try not to eat it every day because it’s so high in calories 🙂
December 21, 2011 @ 4:49 pm
I’ve been eating (or trying to at least) paleo for awhile now, and the latest thing I’ve gotten on to is CADA. Handful of coconut (shredded), almonds, pitted dates and one apple chopped up in the food processor. Comes out with a bircher muesli like consistency.
Nice change from scrambled eggs all the time – mind you, I quite like eggs.
December 21, 2011 @ 9:14 pm
Oh that sounds good – I’ll definitely have to try that 🙂 I *love* dates (probably a bit too much!)
December 21, 2011 @ 5:37 pm
Oh coool are you and I-Hua doing the Paleo diet together?? Anyway, YUM! I’ve always enjoyed the nuts and seeds in my cereal or breakfast bar more than the cereal themselves, why haven’t I thought of just having them on their own like you! Interesting breakfast, have to try!! =D
December 21, 2011 @ 9:15 pm
Not really, I started and I think because I was doing quite well on it, she started doing it too. (Basically she’s copying me. Hahaha.)
December 21, 2011 @ 10:05 pm
Dear BFF, I love you so much for everything in this post. I’m so glad this paleo thing is making you feel better, and that you’re not letting it be a restriction in your life (and that you’re also not a Ms Hoity Toity about it like so many are). Plus, a lifestyle that advocates nuts for breakfast? Awesomepants.
P.S. I’m even more looking forward to crashing at your place indefinitely and having you cook for me now. Don’t worry, I’ll repay you with the sunshine and magic that is myself.
December 22, 2011 @ 10:11 pm
Wait, what? Did I offer up my place for crashing… I’m not sure that I did. I certainly don’t remember that. 😉
December 22, 2011 @ 10:25 pm
Oh you poor thing! You’re getting so forgetful in your old age. It has been over a year, though. But don’t worry, I-Hua’s already offered for this time 😉
December 21, 2011 @ 10:56 pm
This sounds sooo good. I’m not on the paleo plan but I also love eggs and green smoothies for breakfast too. I’m always looking for filling brekkies because by 10.30am I’m ravenous at my desk our in meetings. This looks like something I have to try. Surely all those nuts and coconut would keep me satisfied! Thank you 🙂
December 24, 2011 @ 10:34 pm
I hope you like it as much as I do 🙂
December 22, 2011 @ 8:32 pm
No! The kittehs! Think of the kittehs!!! Hahahahaha
December 24, 2011 @ 10:35 pm
Haha don’t worry – no kittehs die when I eat it! Only when Tazza does :p
December 23, 2011 @ 7:04 am
You may think it is boring, but I find it interesting to hear about other people’s digestive issues. But, only because I have them myself.
It is great to hear you feel great doing paleo:) I know what you mean by a ‘freeing’ feeling! It feels so good! I was on yogurt with fruit but I think having so much fruit bothered my body. Now I am on a 2 tabpesoons of yogurt with a strawberry and a tomato fried in butter with cheese. Doesn’t sound like much, but it feels me up and I can WALK after! YAY! I do not feel hungry until lunch time, which is great.
A lovely recipe you have here. Lots of lovely fat to keep you full:)
January 5, 2012 @ 10:19 pm
Yay, I’m glad you’ve found something that’s tasty and doesn’t make you sick! It’s such a good feeling. 🙂
December 27, 2011 @ 8:37 pm
Meowwwwwww, meowwwwwww.
January 5, 2012 @ 10:19 pm
The poor kittens! 🙁