Granola is one of those foods that more often times than not is faux healthy. The foundation is typically a wholesome one, but then it becomes adulterated with loads of sugar, oil, possibly some chocolate chips, and sugar coated dried fruit. Sorry to bring you down from your sugar high but, as always, I've got your back. My recipe for a healthy feel good granola with just the right amount of fall essence will leave you satisfied and devoid of looking for your next pumpkin fix.
Pumpkin spiced granola encompasses all of your fall breakfast or snack essentials. You get filling fiber and protein from the oats, quinoa, and walnuts and a touch of sweetness from honey. Add extra mileage to your granola by tossing in chia seeds, ground flax seeds, and hemp seeds once the granola is cooked and cooled. Fresh or frozen fruit is a welcome addition too. This granola works great with your favorite yogurt, milk, or my personal favorite, kefir.
This recipe was created in collaboration with Fair Trade USA to celebrate Fair Trade Month!
What is Fair Trade you ask?
Fair Trade is a simple way to make every purchase matter. When you buy a product with the Fair Trade Certified™ label, you know that the farmers and workers who produced it got a fair deal for their hard work. This means better prices and wages, safe working conditions, environmental protection, and the ability to build sustainable livelihoods and thriving communities.
Fair Trade Principles
Fair labor conditions: The rigorous Fair Trade standards ensure that farmers and workers enjoy safe working conditions, regulated work hours, maternity leave and freedom of association. Slave and child labor are strictly prohibited.
Environmental sustainability: Harmful agrochemicals, GMOs, and farming techniques that destroy the environment are strictly prohibited in Fair Trade. Standards require farmers to implement environmentally sustainable farming methods that protect their own health and preserve valuable ecosystems for future generations.
Community development: With Fair Trade farmers and workers earn an additional Community Development Premium with every sale. This extra income is used to fund much-needed projects like education, healthcare and clean water that benefit entire communities.
Democratic organization: In Fair Trade everyone gets a voice and a vote. In order to earn certification, the producer group must democratically-elect a Fair Trade committee. This committee is responsible for voting on and managing the Community Development Premiums.
Women’s empowerment: Fair Trade certification is an important mechanism for protecting and empowering women in agricultural communities. In addition to freedom from harassment and other social requirements, Fair Trade ensures that women to have fair representation and the opportunity to become leaders in their community.
Direct Relationships: In Fair Trade, companies purchase from farms as directly as possible, eliminating unnecessary middlemen from the supply chain. This fosters long-term, sustainable relationships between growers and buyers, and empowers farmers and farm workers to be the best international businesspeople they can be.
- Via Fair Trade Certified
Be sure to check my Instagram for an amazing giveaway featuring a box of delicious fair trade goodies.
Pumpkin Granola
ingredients
- 2 cups extra thick rolled oats (gluten-free if needed)
- 1/2 cup rainbow quinoa (black, white, or red are also fine)
- 2/3 cups chopped raw walnuts
- 1/4 cup raw pumpkin seeds
- 1/4 tsp dried ground ginger
- 1/8 tsp ground cloves
- 1/2 tsp vanilla bean powder
- 1/8 tsp ground nutmeg
- 2 tsps ground cinnamon
- 1/3 cup coconut oil
- 1/4 cup honey or maple syrup
- 1/2 cup unsweetened pumpkin puree
method
- Preheat oven to 325 degrees.
- In a medium bowl, mix together the oats, quinoa, walnuts, pumpkin seeds, and spices. Add coconut oil, honey, and pumpkin puree. Mix until all ingredients are well incorporated.
- Spread oat mixture out on a parchment paper-lined sheet tray and bake for 30 to 40 minutes. Be sure to check every 10 minutes and toss halfway through baking. Granola will be ready when lightly brown and firm. Once removed, the granola will continue to harden slightly.
- Store in an airtight container.
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