So, spring is here and it already feels like summer! Now that we are able to walk without 3 pairs of socks and a coat, we can eat food that is not hot. Spring and summer mean healthy food and showing some skin! And for those of us who don’t believe in the saying ‘summer bodies are made in winter’, trying to get back in shape and eating healthy starts now.
I am always trying to cut sugar where it hurts least. For example, I don’t drink any sugar in my tea or coffee or in any form of porridge. This merely means more sugar somewhere else… 😉
Normally that would be true, but every now and then, for some mad reason I try and cut out all sugar, bread, pastries, pasta, any crumbed food and potatoes for 21 days. And most of the days I am a complete wreck at about 15:00. I find that drinking a lot of water and coffee throughout the day and eating before you are completely starved, help. I allow myself to eat natural sugars like fruits, so this muesli really goes well with plain yogurt and some fruit each morning.
Have you ever read the list of ingredients of store-bought muesli? All of them have added sugar! Why eat cereal with added sugar when you can get sugar from fruit? Plus, it is recommended to eat at least 5 portions of fruit and vegetables each day. If you would like to know more about ‘5-a-day’ and what counts as 5 portions, you can read more about it here. Eating muesli with fruit and yogurt instead of milk will help you achieve your ‘5-a-day’ goal.
Why is it important to consume fruit and vegetables each day? There are all kinds of benefits. You can read up about it in this article. You can also find a more in-depth article here.
Oats also has a range of benefits that include:
- Great source of soluble fiber which helps to slow down digestion
- Lowers blood cholesterol levels
- Eases constipation
- Restores nerves
- Contains a range of vitamins and minerals
The oats that I used are still rolled, but not finely rolled like instant oats. The oats on the left is coarser than the oats on the right. I make use of coarse oats.
Ingredients
- 2½ Cups of Coarse Oats
- ½ Cup Pumpkin Seeds
- ½ Cup Sunflower Seeds
- ½ Teaspoon Mixed Spice
- 1 Teaspoon Ground Cinnamon
- 2 Handfuls of Dried Coconut Flakes
- 2 Handfuls of Almond Slices
- 1 Tablespoon Chia Seeds
- 1 Tablespoon Linseed / Flaxseed
- 50ml Raisins
- 50ml Dried Cranberries
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 160°C.
- Mix the oats, pumpkin seeds, sunflower seeds, mixed spice and cinnamon. Place it on an ungreased baking tray and bake for 25 – 30 minutes, stirring every 10 minutes. Some of the pumpkin seeds will pop as they bake.
- While the oats is baking, toast the coconut flakes in a small non-stick pan over low heat. Make sure to constantly stir the coconut flakes or they will burn. The flakes are done if most of them have a golden colour to the edges. Remove from the pan and cool completely.
- Repeat this process with the almond slices.
- When the oats is done - slightly darker and crispy, remove from the oven and cool completely.
- Add the coconut flakes, almond slices, chia seeds, linseed, raisins and cranberries to the oats and seeds.
- Mix well & transfer to an airtight container.