Hi, my name is Ashley and I’m a recovering cereal addict.

Phew! That feels better already.

But no, really. I seriously LOVED cereal in my pre-healthy days. I would eat it three times a day some days.  I’d eat if for breakfast or dessert.  Lunch, snack, because I was bored.  Didn’t matter, I’d eat it whenever.

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And I was not discriminate, I’d eat the super neon sugary stuff and the less sugary stuff alike.  I was obsessed with it alllll.

Now that I know that for hormone regulation, metabolism support, blood sugar stabilization and overall health we need to eat warm nourishing breakfasts with little to no sugar, good fats and proteins I have kicked the cereal habit for good.

(How was that for a run on sentence??)

Every now and then, though, I still want something quick and easy and cold.  Enter this cereal.

Plus the fact that this is the easiest thing ever to make and makes a large batch, it’s even better than the gross store bought stuff.

Now some would argue that this is not cereal. That this is more granola. I wouldn’t disagree but to me if you eat it with milk, it’s cereal.  Call it whatever you fancy, I won’t mind 😉

This cereal comes together with three easy steps, stores in the fridge for over week (if it makes it that long), is full of healthy fats and flavor and if you add the optional collagen it has gut healing protein as well!!

A little about the ingredients:

Walnuts:

• Contain several unique and powerful antioxidants
• May help with weight control
• Offers support for brain and type 2 diabetes
• One quarter cup of walnuts can provide over 100% of the daily recommended value of plant based Omega 3s (source)

Apples:

• A good source of cancer fighting antioxidants
• Can help manage weight
• May prevent inflammation
• Low on the glycemic index and can help regulate blood sugar
• Are a natural source of boron, a mineral that is important for building strong bones (source)

Coconut Oil:

• Is a good source of healthy fats
• Can aid in digestion because of the concentration of beneficial fats
• Contains specific fats that aid in the natural hormone production of the body (source)

If you’d like to read about the benefits of collagen head here to a great post about this amazing superfood. And if you’d like another recipe including the beneficial collagen, check out this post! If you need to know where to find the best collagen around, this is my absolute favorite brand.  They are an amazing, reputable company.

Salted Peanut Butter Granola

(Grain Free, Paleo and Vegan Friendly)

Ingredients:

• 3 1/2 Cups Walnuts
• 3 Cups Dried Apples
• 1 Tablespoon Cinnamon
• 1/2 Tablespoon Ground Ginger
• 1 Heaping Teaspoon Sea Salt
• 6 Tablespoons of Peanut Butter (Or almond butter for Paleo)
• 2 Tablespoons Coconut Oil, Melted
• 1/2 Cup Maple Syrup
• 4 Tablespoons Grassfed Collagen Powder (Optional) (Omit for Vegan)

Instructions:

1. Preheat oven to 300*F.
2. Throw all of the dry ingredients in a food processor or blender and pulse until fine crumbles. Add wet ingredients and process until combined.
3. Press onto a baking sheet.  If you like softer granola bake on one pan in a thicker layer, if you like crunchy granola bake on two pans in thinner layers.
4. Bake for approximately 20-30 minutes or until golden. Let cool completely on the pan, it will get stiffer and crunchier as it cools.
5. Break into desired size pieces and store in the fridge!

Would you call this cereal or granola?? Were you as much of an addict as I was?