Sugar-free banana cluster granola

Nutritionist Kate Walker provides a delicious, healthy breakfast recipe to start your day off right.

Everyone loves a healthy but quick start to the day and with this sugar-free, grain-free and gluten-free granola you will be left wanting to eat breakfast for lunch and dinner! Why buy cereal when you can make a healthy and delicious version yourself?

Banana Cluster Granola 

Makes 10-12 serves (average)

Ingredients:

• 1.5 cups buckwheat granules (can find in most supermarkets in gluten free/ health/ baking section)
• 1 cup long thread coconut
• ¾ cup sunflower seeds
• ¾ cup pumpkin seeds
• ½ cup chia seeds
• 1 cup sliced/slithered almonds
• 1-2 ripe bananas (depends on size)
• 2 tablespoons Natvia (found in baking section)
• 1 tablespoon cinnamon
• 1/3 cup smooth unsalted peanut or almond butter (optional)

Method:

1. Preheat oven to 180deg C (350deg F).

2. In a large bowl add the buckwheat, coconut, seeds and almonds and mix together.

3. Blend the banana, peanut butter, Natvia and cinnamon together until runny and smooth. Fold the wet ingredients into the dry ingredients and stir well.

4. Line a baking try or shallow dish with baking paper and spread the mixture around evenly and thinly (no higher than 1 cm). Turn the oven down to 150deg C (300deg F) and place in the oven for 20 minutes, until golden brown. Remove from oven and let cool so they can become crunchy.

5. Store in an airtight container. Serve with yoghurt or milk, or top any dessert with it.

Kate Walker, Nutritionist, Lifespark Nutrition
B.S.R. (Nutrition & Physical Activity) (AUT), Cert PT, MNZNF
An advocate for better health and well-being through good food and exercise, Kate has transformed the lives of hundreds of individuals and families across Auckland with her sensible and sustainable approach to nutrition. Kate is a keen foodie who enjoys cooking and developing quick, easy and creative recipes to help people make healthy changes in their diet.
Her skills as a nutritionist are well recognised, having worked with the NZ National Heart Foundation providing research and support to establish healthy canteens in schools and Early Child Care Centres; and Plunket bringing awareness to how good food at home can make a big difference to children’s (and parents) behaviour. With an extensive background in exercise prescription and training, Kate is also able to offer advice and support beyond nutrition.

Visit Kate’s website, Lifespark Nutrition

Cooking for Health Workshops! A must see!

Lifespark Nutrition is teaming up with Chef Dan Michaeli for four nutritionally fun and interactive educational events with a different theme for each night. Each 2 hour workshop will be mixed with fun activities catered to all learning abilities to help you gain the key science based-facts around current diet trend: eating a Low Carb Healthy Fat diet, Living without Sugar, Paleo and Food as Medicine. PLUS a cooking demonstration and tasters to learn amazing new recipes and ways to help take your cooking to a healthier and tastier new level. No more boring lunches or dinners!

Where: Wise Cicada Food store and cafe, Newmarket
When: 21st October, 4th November, 18th November, 2nd December
Time: 6:15pm – approx 8pm
Cost: $80 per workshop.

For more information you can visit our Facebook page or Wise Cicada’s website, or click on each title below.

LOW CARB HEALTHY FATS – 21 October

LIFE WITHOUT SUGAR  – 4 November

MODERN PALEO – 18 November

LET THY FOOD BE THY MEDICINE – 2 December

ALL FOUR WORKSHOPS – DISCOUNTED PRICE