Lemon Poppy Granola
plus my favorite breakfast routine
It was a mostly lovely long Memorial Day weekend here, except for the holiday itself which was filled with threatening, grumbling skies that finally gave way to some heavy downpours. I spent a good chunk of Sunday cleaning up the yard, getting it ready to enjoy for the season.
As the kids grow older and less interested in the tree swing or watching movies projected on the garage by the glow of the fire pit, it seems like a lot of work for just my enjoyment. After four hours of cleaning, raking, tree trimming, and mowing, I settled at one of the antique iron tables in the garden for dinner, and was reminded that I’m worth the effort.
My strength training has also made garden work a bit easier. You know those videos you see on Instagram about how our workout moves are training us to do simple tasks as we age? They’re so true. Weeding is usually such laborious work but this time I found the repeated bending and sustained squatting so much easier, almost an afterthought.
Today I’m excited to share my favorite new granola recipe. Most mornings my breakfast includes a yogurt parfait for an added protein boost. The base of my parfaits is always plain Greek yogurt. Even seemingly innocent fruit-based ones have so much sugar, plus a big container of plain yogurt is more economical. I layer Greek yogurt with a few drizzles of maple syrup for a more natural sweetener, berries for fiber, and granola for both texture and more fiber.
My usual ratio is 120g plain 0% Greek yogurt, 5g maple syrup, 40g blackberries, and one serving of this lemon poppy granola. All together this parfait adds 14g of protein, and also makes for a great afternoon snack. You can choose to whisk the yogurt with some vanilla extract if desired before assembling the parfait. On my strength training days, I usually have this shortly after waking up to fuel my body ahead of my workout.
Ruts are very easy to get into when tracking macros, so I mix up the berries, sometimes using raspberries or cut up strawberries. I also keep Purely Elizabeth Ancient Grains granola in the pantry as a backup for when I run out of my homemade granola,or when I just need a little change in my routine. Sometimes a tablespoon of peanut butter even makes its way in there.
This breakfast ritual also adds a good dose of fiber, about 4g, or 15% of my daily fiber intake. Most people get only half of recommended daily fiber according to the American Heart Association. Of course, remember that fiber only does a body good if you’re mindful of water consumption, so keep a glass or bottle with you throughout the day so you remember to drink even if you aren’t thirsty.
Hope the week ahead is gentle for us all. Be well, and remember to be kind. —xo, j.
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