While technically speaking it’s still summer, September always feels like fall to me. It also serves as reset. Back to routine, back to meal planning & prepping and back to eating healthy (you don’t want to know how much ice cream we ate this summer).

I’ve always found the easiest way to make healthy eating choices is to have convenient, easy options available. Meal prepping some things like muffins, overnight oats and granola makes it so much easier when the kids tell me they’re hungry at 6:30 am.

Homemade granola is so easy to make, and there’s so many ways to customize it. For me it’s great, because I’m allergic to almonds, and most pre-packaged granola has almonds in it. Most of the time I just use whatever ingredients I have on hand like dried fruit, nuts and seeds. You can also control the type and how much sweetener you use. I like using honey most of the time.

Once it’s made you can just munch on it on its own, with milk or our favourite way—on top of organic vanilla yogurt with fresh berries.

All of the ingredients I used to make this granola were found using local grocery delivery service Spud.ca. They make it easy to find locally-sourced, organic, healthy ingredients to feed my family…and deliver it to my door! If you’re wanting to try Spud for yourself (do it, it’s the best lol) use the code CREDM-SOCALE for $20 off your first order.

Coconut Chia Seed Granola Recipe

Yields: Jar of Granola

You’ll Need:

• 3 cups of old fashioned rolled oats
• 1/4 cup coconut oil
• 1/3 cup honey
• 1/2 cup unsweetened coconut flakes
• 1/2 cup coconut strips
• 2 tablespoon chia seeds
• 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
• 1/4 cacao nibs
• Pinch of salt

Directions:

1. Preheat the oven to 325 degrees. Line a large rimmed baking sheet with parchment paper and set aside.
2. In a large bowl, stir together the oats, chia seeds, coconut flakes & strips and pinch of salt.
3. Place the coconut oil and honey in small bowl and melt together in the microwave, then stir to combine and sand add vanilla extract.
4. Pour the wet mixture over the dry ingredients and stir until the dry ingredients are well coated. Pour the mixture onto the prepared baking sheet and spread into a single layer.
5. Bake on the middle rack of the oven for 20-25 minutes until golden brown. Remove from the oven and pile the granola into a heap on one half of the pan and compress. This will make nice, big clusters. Allow to cool completely and then break into chunks.
6. Store in an air tight container at room temperature.

Hope you enjoy this recipe! As I said it’s easy to adapt based on what you have or like. Add in almonds or cashews, use maple syrup instead of honey. Make it your own!

Happy {almost} fall!

Alex