Is granola good for you?

Yes! In general, granola is very good for you, but as we will discuss further below, not all granola is created equal. An interesting granola fact is that according to the USDA, a half cup of homemade granola usually has 8 grams of protein, 5 grams of fiber, 12 grams of sugar, and 32 grams of carbs totaling just 298 calories. There are a bunch of healthy vitamins and minerals in granola as well, including vitamin E, thiamine, and folate. Another granola fact we bet you didn’t know, is that granola is sort of like a naturally occurring multivitamin, as it contains magnesium, phosphorus, zinc, copper, manganese, and selenium. That’s a lot of nutritional value packed into a small serving!

Is granola bad for you?

Granola will always have some nutritional value, but it’s important to note that not all brands are created equal and not all granola is as good for you as others. Remain diligent and be careful of which granola you purchase. A lot of the big box brands, and some home recipes, contain a significant source of empty calories due to added sugar and fat. The nutritional value of the granola depends greatly on who the manufacturer is. Always remember to check the nutrition facts when shopping, and try to avoid products containing high fructose or corn sweeteners, refined or artificial sweeteners, and any product that simply has high sugar content. Here at Nora’s Kitchen, we use a small amount of organic maple syrup to provide the perfect level of sweetness to our granola, making it a low glycemic-index food ideal for diabetics. As far as granola facts go, you will be pleased to hear we have gone out of our way to ensure all of our ingredients are vegan and gluten-free, making Nora’s Kitchen Granola a healthy snack for just about anyone, even those with strict dietary restrictions.

History of granola

One of the least known granola facts is that granola hasn’t always been “granola”. Before there was the granola we all know and love today, there was granula, often described as a “larger and tougher version” of the well-known cereal, Grape Nuts. Granula was first invented by Dr. James Caleb Jackson in Dansville, New York at the Jackson Sanitarium in 1863. Granula was made of graham flour (again, not unlike grape nuts), and didn’t contain all the nuts and berries we often associate granola with today. John Harvey Kellogg (yes that Kellogg) soon after came up with his own version of granola, but later changed the name to granola in order to avoid legal problems with Dr. Jackson.

The first time a granola bar was patented, manufactured, and sold in the United States was in Chico, California by Edward Thayer Sr. Granola fell out of trend until the 1960’s when fruits and nuts were added to it, which turned it into the superfood we love today.

What is granola made of?

Granola can be modified to include just about any ingredient, but the base ingredient that essentially makes granola “granola” is the toasted rolled oats. Various nuts, fruits, seeds, and toppings can be added such as honey or vanilla. Here at Nora’s Kitchen, our vegan, gluten-free granola recipe only has 12 ingredients with the goal of creating a great-tasting product that remains healthy and nutritious! These ingredients include:

1. Gluten-free rolled oats
2. Gluten-free oat bran
3. Almonds
4. Pistachios
5. Organic maple syrup
6. Coconut
7. Flaxseed Meal
8. Pumpkin Seeds
9. Extra-virgin olive oil, rice protein powder, spices, kosher sale