Healthy granola is 'perfect for hassle-free breakfast' - takes just minutes and one bowl

Granola is a delicious breakfast which many people prefer to cereal or toast in the morning. But many people automatically assume it is a healthy way to start the day, which isn't neccessarily the case.

Shop-bought granola is usually very high in refined sugar and can also be heavily processed. I learned this when I began looking more closely into what I ate as I moved to cut all ultra-processed food out of my diet, which you can read about here.

But there is a way to enjoy the delicious flavours of granola, with all the health benefits and none of the ingredients that are not so good for your health: make your own.

This version happens to be grain-free, but you will also be able to find plenty of options for homemade granola including oats. And if you're looking for a healthier alternative for an evening meal, try this rich and delicious bolognese.

This healthy, grain-free crunchy nut granola recipe comes from Nadia's Healthy Kitchen and also features on the Zoe science and nutrition app for members trying to improve what they eat.

The brilliant thing about making your own granola is that you only need a bowl to mix up your ingredients, an oven tray to roast it in (and an oven, of course).

And you can mix and match the ingredients based on what you have in the kitchen or what you fancy on any week. The amount of nuts in this particular recipe means that is nutrient-dense and very high in healthy fats.

You can use it as the basis for a more varied breakfast, including adding yoghurt and fruit. Enjoy!

Equipment you will need

• A bowl for mixing
• An oven tray for cooking

Ingredients (makes six servings)

Feel free to vary some of these as you wish. I didn't have any almonds in the house so I used pistachios

• Hazelnuts, 45g
• Almonds, 45g
• Cashew nuts, 45g
• Pumpkin seeds, 40g
• Chia seeds, 1 tbsp
• Ground cinnamon, 1 tsp
• Salt, pinch
• Tahini paste, 1 tbsp
• Maple syrup, 1 tbsp

Method

Preheat your oven to 180C.

Mix all the ingredients in a bowl, making sure everything is evenly coated with the maple syrup, cinnamon and tahini.

Pour it out into a lined baking tray (if you're only making a small batch, it will need to be a small tray).

Bake for 15-20 minutes until golden.

Allow to cool completely then, once cooled, break up into chunks and transfer to an airtight container (I closed the container and shook it about to break it all up more).

You can store this for two weeks at room temperature, or freeze it for longer.

All you have to do now is serve it up with lashings of Greek yoghurt and some fruit. Enjoy!