Basic Grain- Free Granola

I have dabbled in eating a paleo diet on and off for a few years now, but being a paleo- vegan often presents daunting challenges- having to beans, grains or soy in my diet would kind of make me starve! Instead of choosing to go full throttle on paleo, I have decided to go with my own advice on everything in life- balance is the key! I choose the grains I love (quinoa, buckwheat and oats, with a little bit of rice) and splurge on some of my favorite things in life like sour dough and challah bread. Beans are a mainstay in my diet and soy has its place. I am more and more moving away from one established diet and creating a plan that works just for me! In your own journeys, I offer the same advice- use established diets to experiment with and learn what works and doesn't work with your body, then create your own unique eating plan that makes you feel your best!

This recipe is grain- free as I do spend some of my time eating a low grain diet. Feel free to sub some of the nuts or coconut for oats, if you desire.

Basic Grain- Free Granola

1/2 c almonds chopped

1/2 c walnuts or pecans, chopped

1 c finely shredded or desiccated coconut, unsweetened

1 tbsp cinnamon

Splash vanilla

3 tbsp maple syrup*

2 tbsp water

pinch, salt

optional add ins, chocolate chips, cacao nibs, cacao powder, dried cherries, raisins, sacha inchi seeds

Preheat oven to 300. Mix all ingredients and pat down onto a parchment lined tray. Cook about 20 minutes, rotating at the halfway point. Shut oven off, break granola into clusters and leave in an off oven for an extra 10 minutes.

*Notes

- When trying to keep added sweeteners low, I change the ratio to 2 tablespoons of maple syrup and 3 tablespoons of water and add 2 teaspoons of lucuma powder.

- When trying to increase the protein of this granola, I add an extra 1/4 cups of sacha inchi seeds which boasts an additional 8 grams of protein to the granola.