How Many Calories in Granola?

Granola in all its forms is widely understood to be healthy. It's what you should take with you on a hike for a quick energy fix, or add to your fruit to add some nutritional balance to your breakfast. And while it's pretty obvious that a chocolate-covered granola bar or trail mix with Smarties added in won't do your diet any favours, mixing some plain organic granola to your yogurt in the morning can't hurt right?

Granola is generally healthy -- it's made primarily of oats, whole grains, nuts, seeds and maybe some dried fruit. But is it a diet-friendly choice? What do you think?

How Many Calories in Yogurt with Granola and Fruit (from Au Bon Pain?)

1. 130 cal
2. 340 cal
3. 620 cal
4. 890 cal

The answer is 620 Calories in a serving of granola, fruit and yogurt from Au Bon Pain, including 13 g of fat. With more calories than a Big Mac, that's a little high for a 'healthy' breakfast, don't you think? Still, if you're active and not looking to lose any weight, this isn't a bad breakfast, but you might be better off getting something with a little more protein.

And keep in mind that all granolas aren't created equal. Most are loaded with unnecessary sugar and fat, so if you love granola, try making your own at home.

Basic Granola Recipe

Ingredients:

• 4 cups old fashioned rolled oats
• 1 cup unsweetened coconut, flaked or shredded (sweetened may be substituted)
• ¾ cup regular wheat germ
• ¾ cup almonds, sliced or slivered
• 2/3 cup brown sugar, firmly packed
• ½ cup instant nonfat dry milk
• ¼ cup vegetable oil
• 1/3 cup honey

Instructions:

1. Prepare a roasting pan with non-stick cooking spray or vegetable shortening and set aside.
2. Pre-heat oven to 325°F.
3. In a large mixing bowl, thoroughly combine the first six ingredients.
4. Add the oil and honey to the bowl by first measuring the oil and swirling it around in the cup. This will allow the honey, measured in the same cup, to pour easily out of the cup.
5. Stir ingredients again so that the oil and honey are thoroughly distributed.
6. Evenly spread the granola mixture in the roasting pan.
7. Bake uncovered in pre-heated oven; stirring every five minutes.
8. Granola will be done when golden and nicely toasted; in about 15 to 20 minutes.
9. Remove from oven and allow to cool completely before storing in jars or other air-tight containers.

Basic Granola Variations
Many healthy variations of the basic granola recipe can be made by adding any favorite fruits, nuts and spices. Some tasty examples are offered below.

Apple-Cinnamon Granola Recipe
When preparing dry ingredients, mix in 1½ cups chopped dried apples and 6½ teaspoons cinnamon.

Nutty Buddy Granola Recipe
Reduce oats by 1¾ cups. Add 1 cup peanuts or almonds, ¼ cup sesame seeds, and ½ cup toasted sunflower seeds to the dry ingredients.

Tutti Fruitti Granola Recipe
Mix in 1½ cups of any combination of favorite dried fruits to the basic recipe’s dry ingredients. Consider additions such as chopped pitted dates, apricots, raisins, currants, cherries and cranberries.

Maple Granola Recipe
Substitute maple syrup for the honey.

Super Deluxe Granola Recipe
Reduce oats by 1½ cups, and add 1½ cups of a favorite dried fruit, plus a total of 1½ cups of any combination of the following:

• Cashew Halves and Pieces
• Chopped Filberts or Hazelnuts
• Chopped Pecans
• Chopped Walnuts
• Peanuts
• Sesame Seeds
• Sunflower Seeds