Friday Foodspiration: Pumpkin Seed Granola

Ready for fall and all things pumpkin spice?

I’m easing myself in with pumpkin seed granola. A little sweet, not overly pumpkin spicy, and is a perfect Greek yogurt (coconut yogurt for me) topping.

It is packed with pumpkin and flax seed for a super healthy boost (especially if you are seed cycling*). The key to get the most bang for your buck with these seeds is to grind some of them in a clean coffee grinder in order that your body can best absorb the nutrients. A food processor isn’t quite as effective if you are looking for hormonal benefits, but otherwise it will do just fine. .

Also, I get the best crunch from granola when I make it in my food dehydrator but you could also make this in the oven set at the lowest setting, checking frequently for it to be brown and crispy.

Finally, a high quality collagen protein powder is a great addition to granola (well just about anything in my opinion), but all collagen products are NOT created equally. Three important factors to consider: look for hydrolyzed peptides, the types of collagen included, and the inclusion of ingredients to maximize absorption.

Check out my favorite Collagen+ with types I, II, III, V, X can provide benefits for not only hair and skin, but also digestion, joint & bone health, and athletic performance (e-mail me for a limited time special or current coupon codes amanda@peakpotentialpt.com)

Gluten, Grain, Dairy, Soy, Sugar Free. High Protein, Healthy Fats, Low Carb.

Ingredients:

• 1/2 cup Pumpkin Puree

• 1/4 cup Coconut Oil, melted

• 2 Egg Whites

• 1 tsp Vanilla Extract

• 2 cups Unsweetened Shredded Coconut

• 2 cups Raw Pumpkin Seeds (grind one cup)

• 1 cup Flax Seeds (grind 1/2 cup)

• 2 scoops High Quality Collagen Powder**

• 1 cup Pecans, chopped

• 1/2 cup Golden Monkfruit (or coconut sugar)

• 1 tbs Cinnamon

• 1/8 tsp Nutmeg

• 1/4 tsp Cloves

• 1 tsp Sea Salt

Instructions:

1. In a medium size bowl, combine the first 4 wet ingredients and whisk well.

2. In a large bowl, combine the remaining dry ingredients and stir to combine.

3. Add the wet ingredients to the dry ingredients and stir well.

4. Place in food dehydrator at 115 for 8 hours, or place in your oven at the lowest temperature for about 2 hours (check occasionally so that it doesn’t burn). I do not stir this while cooking because I like my granola in big chunks.

*Seed cycling is a way for women to boost certain nutrients in their bodies during certain times of the month in order to naturally balance hormones – whether you are actually cycling or not. If you want to know more on how to implement seed cycling or other ways to use nutrition to balance your hormones, shoot me an e-mail amanda@peakpotentialpt.com – it’s one of my favorite things to talk about!