TOASTED MUESLI

I really notice a huge difference in my eating habits over the course of a day, based on what I have for breakfast. Sometimes I skip it, then I end up snacking by 10am. Or if I eat too early, at about 7.30/8am, I’m still hungry at 10ish and I start snacking.

However, if I eat something healthy, something with low GI, it sustains me throughout the morning and I don’t feel the need to snack. Now, obviously, you would think that knowing this, I would do it every day. I don’t of course. I’m my own worst enemy. It really depends on my frame of mind. At the moment, I am trying to eat a lot eat better, so with that in mind, I decided to make a batch of my favourite healthy breakfast…toasted muesli.

This is incredibly easy to make and can be stored in an airtight container for at least a month. The amounts in the ingredients are just a rough estimate. It really depends on how much you like each item. If you don’t like something, take it out or substitute it for something else. If you like raisins and sultanas, add them. I don’t so I use dried cranberries instead and usually dried blueberries. The other day when I was shopping I couldn’t find blueberries so I got goji berries instead. Or you can add dates or dried apricots…its totally up to you.

Ingredients
300g rolled oats
125ml apple juice
2 tbsp vegetable oil
60g raw almonds
40g pumpkin seeds
100g sunflower seeds
20g sesame seeds
30g flaked coconut
30g dried goji berries
60g dried cranberries
2 tsp ground cinnamon

Preheat the oven to 160°C / 140°C (fan) / 315°F / Gas 2-3.

Place all the ingredients, except for the dried fruit, in a large bowl and stir well to combine.

Spread the mixture evenly over a large baking tray and place in the oven for 30 minutes, stirring occasionally until lightly browned. (keep an eye on it. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve forgotten about it and burnt it!)

Remove from the oven and allow to cool, then sprinkle the ground cinnamon over and stir through. You can add more than 1tsp if you wish, it depends how much you like cinnamon.

Then transfer to an airtight container. When you’re ready to eat it, add whatever fruit you like to it. In this case I added chopped dried apricots and fresh raspberries. If I have some pomegranate in the house, I’ll add fresh pomegranate seeds too. I often have it with milk but its delicious served with natural yoghurt instead, with an extra dusting of ground cinnamon, its totally up to you.

This is a really delicious breakfast, and so good for you. The oats will provide slow releasing energy throughout the morning, keeping you full until lunch. The seeds provide iron, zinc, calcium and magnesium, arguably the four most important minerals our bodies need. The almonds are high in vitamin E, are a natural antioxidant and also come packed with a whole host of other important nutrients. They’re low in saturated fat and high in protein. In this case I’ve used goji berries which contain beta-carotene, a high concentration of vitamin C and 18 kinds of amino acids. A perfect start to the day!

I really hope you like it!