Granola is healthier than most other cereals

[Aliceisagooddog]

Ongoing argument with dh. He thinks granola is bad because its high sugar. I think it's not as bad as cornflakes etc because it's much less processed, you can actually see what it's made of.
Who's being unreasonable?

It's not difficult at all - just have full fat yogurt and omit the protein powder. There's protein in yogurt anyway. Replace soya milk with normal milk or just omit and have more yogurt.

The rest is fine, high sugar which is not ideal but probably ok if he's very active and because it's part of a balanced meal so won't be causing sugar spikes.

And in this case you would be wrong.

https://www.ocado.com/products/fage-total-0-fat-natural-fat-free-greek-recipe-strained-yoghurt-75640011

Ingredients
Pasteurised Skimmed Milk, Live Active Yoghurt Cultures (L. Bulgaricus, S. Thermophilus, L. Acidophilus, Bifidus, L. Casei)

As already discussed, I think full-fat yoghourt is better, but there is nothing nasty in this.

Agreed, this is a fairly easy fix but I was surprised at how many things I thought were reasonably healthy are in fact, not. Example=a whole apple, eaten with peel = healthy. Stewed apple, not healthy at all.

Another fan of homemade granola - I make mine with egg white to reduce the oil and honey content while keeping it crunchy, and swap more of the honey for blackstrap molasses for extra iron etc. Works out as about half a teaspoon of sugar per portion and it's delicious with a mix of kefir and yoghurt and whatever berries I have available, mostly from the freezer. I use jumbo oats for slower energy release and lots and lots of nuts and seeds. It generally works out as >15 different plants, plus protein and fibre, in one bowlful. Overall that feels like good nutritional value for the calories.

Make Zoe granola, then you’ll definitely be right. I use coconut oil instead of olive oil

The milk is the only healthy part of most cereals. Assuming you have full fat .
If you eat Coco pops or frosties with skimmed milk it's worse than eating a few chocolate biscuits

Fair enough.

Just had a look at the granola in my cupboard....it's more calorific than rice Krispies. I never thought granola was particularly healthy though...it's quite sweet and lots of nuts and seeds which are calorific.

The protein powder is definitely UPF, and I wouldn't touch it, but each to his/her own. The males in this household believe they benefit from having extra protein added to their breakfasts. I don't, but they are far more active than I am, so who knows. I can't get worked up about it, frankly. They are both much healthier than I am.

Stewed apple is fine - assuming home made with no sugar - why do you think it's bad?

You do know that honey is sugar, don't you? So this isn't sugar-free.

Is it?? Unless you're considering that if you eat the full fat you stay fuller for longer and will avoid a mid morning snack, no, full fat is not healthier.

Some protein powders are much worse than others - most are absolutely crammed with additives but I have Healthy Tree whey which is literally just powdered whey, not even any emulsifiers. I don't have a huge amount of it as I would rather have my protein as food but it's handy for a post workout recovery drink (300ml milk, 1 scoop whey powder, teaspoon of honey, dessertspoon of almond butter and a scoop of raw cocoa powder).

Dh always has the Alpen muesli with no added sugar, with fruit on top. During the U.K. strawberry season it’s nearly always those - imported strawberries are not allowed in this house. Otherwise e.g. a cut up apple or a satsuma.

I’d of assumed it’s because you’ve taken out the fibre. A bit like fruit juice is not as good for you as eating fruit?

I wouldn't be surprised if there's fewer cals in a bacon sandwich than in a bowl of granola

It depends but refined sugar is not healthy

I do eat it bit I don't pretend it's healthy

0% Greek yoghurt has more protein per 100g- most people I know who buy it do it because for the calories the protein content is amazing. The ones to avoid are the Greek STYLE yoghurts.

The best cereal on the market imho is Waitrose essential fruit and nut muesli.m (no added sugar, decent price). It is perfect with some plain Greek yoghurt and fruit.

Porridge made in the microwave (but don’t buy the instant stuff) takes two minutes. Aldi’s organic one is cheap and tastes lovely.

I make granola, it's definitely healthier than processed cereal on many levels though not necessarily on calories

The fibre is still there. Stewed apple is just a chopped up apple heated up a bit. Juice is where you squeeze the juice out and bin the fibre.

The pectin in stewed apple is considered to be really good for gut health

We cook most vegetables and they are still considered healthy

Calories aren't the be all and end all of determining whether something is healthy. Home made granola is simply baked oats essentially and then nuts and perhaps dried fruit should you wish, the issue with shop bought ones is that they add honey or sugar or whatever else to add sweetness; but you don't have to add this at home. A bacon sandwich is in no world healthier than granola even if its lower calorie.

Shredded wheat is purely wheat, I know it's not everyone's taste but it's not too bad.

It depends on your day surely? Granola is very high calorie. I eat it before long bike rides or hikes at the weekend when I feel I need a quick but big fuel up.
A bowl of cornflakes is not good fuel at all.
But most work days don’t need the amount of calories or sugar in granola.