Granola is a delicious food that is one of our favorites. We love to use it as cereal, to add to yogurt bowls or smoothies, or just to snack on! However, not all granolas are created equally. With so many brands on the market, what should you be looking for in your granola?
What to Avoid
Granola that you purchase from the grocery store may not be as nutritious as you may think. For example, many granola brands are highly processed and contain a large amount of added sugar. We suggest finding a brand that has a low amount of added sugar. When you look at the nutrition facts label, look for added sugar to be 5% or less of your daily value (DV) of added sugar.
What to Look For
We want to have granola that is both tasty and nutritious for our bodies. The first, and most important thing, that we recommended in a granola is to find one that is high in fiber. Preferably one that has at least 5 grams per serving. Having a high-fiber granola will help to keep you satisfied and prevent you from feeling hungry soon after you eat it. We also suggest granolas that are high in protein. Now, these are sometimes difficult to find. But if you can find it, this will also help to keep you full, and act as an added source of protein to your meals/snacks. Lastly, granolas that are made with whole grains will provide you with more micronutrients than those that may not, so we encourage finding those that contain whole grains.
What Not to Worry About
When looking at a nutrition label, we don’t want you to get caught up in things that you don’t necessarily need to be worrying about. It depends on the food, but for granola we don’t want you to stress about the amount of calories or the total carbohydrates that are found in the granola. Granola is a food that is typically high in both calories and carbohydrates, simply due to the ingredients that are used and even how it is processed. Instead of being worried about these and trying to find granolas with the lowest calories or carbohydrates, focus on getting one that is high in fiber and/or protein, and low in added sugar. If you find one that fits the criteria, you’ve found yourself a nutritious granola!
Here are links to a few of our favorite granola options: Purely Elizabeth Granola and Kind Granola.
If you have more questions regarding what to look for in certain foods, Alli can help! Schedule a call with her here!
This article was written by Emma Bulan, nutrition intern. Fact checked by Allison Tallman RD.