She's so granola...

...And that's kind of true, in the healthy, whole foods, living in Boulder type of way (less so in the outdoorsy way). And not only am I semi-granola myself, I have been getting into making my own granola! I love mixing it with Greek yogurt and fresh fruit for breakfast, and the flavor combinations are practically endless. The more I learn in my nutrition study, the more I'm thinking about making different varieties of granola with different health benefits, e.g. one with lots of Omega-3s, one with anti-inflammatory properties, another that aids digestion, and so on... So, maybe someday on that, but in the mean time, here's my current favorite (and healthiest):

Christie's Mega Omega-3 Double-Ginger Tropical Granola

4 C old fashioned rolled oats (not quick cooking)

1/2 C wheat germ (or this can be omitted if you want a gluten-free granola)

1/2 C ground flaxseed (omega-3 superstar)

3 T chia seed (another omega-3 hero, can be found at health food stores)

1/2 t salt

4 T brown sugar

1 C walnuts, coarsely chopped (you can use other nuts, but this granola is about omega-3s, so walnuts are the winner every time)

1 C dried banana chips, broken up a little bit

1/2 C unsweetened shredded coconut

1/3 C crystallized ginger, finely chopped

1 C dried pineapple, chopped

1/2 C maple syrup (the real stuff, obviously)

2 T water

1 1/2 t ground ginger

1/2 t ground cinnamon

7 T canola oil (more omega-3s!)

Preheat oven to 275.

Combine the oats, wheat germ, flaxseed, chia seed, salt, brown sugar, walnuts, banana chips, coconut and crystallize ginger in a really big bowl.

In a small saucepan over medium heat, combine maple syrup, water, ground ginger and cinnamon. Bring to a boil and then pour over the dry mixture. Add canola oil to mixture and stir to be sure all dry ingredients are coated.

Spray 2-3 large cookie sheets with cooking spray and gently pour granola out onto the sheets, allowing for small clusters and but keeping overall depth to about one layer of mixture.

Bake for 30 minutes. Remove, add dried pineapple, then bake for another 20 mins or so until golden.

Your abode will smell divine.

Makes great gifts!

Nutrition reasons why this is good - Between the flaxseed, chia seed, walnuts and canola oil, this really is an omega-3 powerhouse, and omega-3s are fantastic for you for many reasons. They are natural anti-inflammatories, and help keep blood vessels and brain tissues happy. Great for cardiovascular and neurological health overall, they are also an essential fatty acid that your body can't produce on its own, so it's important that you take it in through your diet. Pineapple also has an enzyme called bromelain, which helps the body digest protein and is also an anti-inflammatory. In addition, this granola has lots of good dietary fiber, and you could even mix in some of your favorite bran cereal for an added punch. I like Smart Bran because it has a good combination of both insoluble fiber (psyllium) and soluble fiber in the form of oatbran, and oats have lots of magic properties, including maintaining proper blood sugar and blood cholesterol levels. See how much great stuff you can pack into a bowl of granola!?