Recipe:
Granola and yogurt are two go-to breakfast items among people who are trying to eat healthy. But granola can often be loaded with sugar and oil. These granola cups incorporate the flavors and textures of granola into a portable cup that tastes similar to a cookie – soft on the bottom, crunchy on the edges – and can be stuffed with yogurt and fruit, with no oil and less sugar than store-bought granolas. They are the perfect breakfast to grab and eat on the go.Yogurt, one of my top ten beauty foods, is an excellent source of calcium, which can help keep nails and teeth strong and beautiful. Greek yogurt, which is used in this recipe, is an excellent source of protein, which is an essential building block for healthy skin, hair, and nails. Oats and banana, which make up the base of the granola, contain silicone, a mineral which is important for scalp health.
Ingredients:
1⁄4 cup maple syrup
1⁄4 cup almond butter
1 large ripe banana, mashed
1 1⁄2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
1 1⁄2 teaspoons vanilla extract
1⁄4 teaspoon salt
2 tablespoons ground flaxseed
2 cups rolled oats
1 1⁄4 cups nonfat vanilla Greek yogurt
1⁄2 cup fresh blueberries
1⁄2 cup sliced strawberries
Instructions:
Preheat oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit. In a large bowl, mix maple syrup, almond butter, mashed banana, cinnamon, vanilla, and salt until combined. Stir in ground flaxseed and oats until combined.
Grease 10 cups of a 12-cup muffin tin or use a silicone muffin tin. Distribute the mixture evenly between 10 cups. Use a spoon to press the mixture to the sides of the muffin tin and leave a small well in the center. Bake for 30-35 minutes, until the cups are fully baked and slightly browned on the edges. Let cool completely and then remove from the muffin tin. Fill each cup with about 2 tablespoons of yogurt and a few blueberries and strawberry slices.
Yields: 5 servings (2 cups per serving)
Per serving: 338 calories, 12.43 g protein, 53.83 g carbohydrates, 7.4 g fiber, 23.08 g sugars, 9.25 g fat, 0.84 g saturated fat, 0 g trans fat, 0 mg cholesterol, 136 mg sodium, 130.6 mg calcium, 0.5 g omega-3 fats, 33 IU vitamin A, 12.36 mg vitamin C, 0.09 mg vitamin E, 2.2 mg iron, 0.3 mg zinc
Lisa Drayer, M.A., R.D.,
is the author of THE BEAUTY DIET and STRONG, SLIM, and 30! For more of Lisa’s Beauty Bites, visit www.lisadrayer.com.