Homemade 1-Bowl Cereal

Posted on by llbalanced
Homemade 1-Bowl Cereal
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    [post_title] => Homemade 1-Bowl Cereal
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12.31

WHYYYYYY cereal, whyyyyy?! Why are you just.so.good!

Anyone who tells me they no longer ever crave cereal after eating a healthier diet...well, let's just say I'm dubious. Because the joy of cereal has little to do with nutrition or hunger, but, I'd argue, is more closely tied to the magnificent contrasts and textures. At first, the satisfying crunch in your jaw drowns out all other sounds, and it is just you and your bowl in the universe. Cool milk washes down each bite, serving to soften your cereal to a pleasant-porridge consistency for a new chewing experience.  This can be improved upon only by the addition of fresh fruit—anything from ripe banana coins to tangy berries even to sweet grape halves (try it!).

Yes, indeed, there is nothing that compares to a good bowl of cereal.

There's only one problem: it is almost impossible to stop at just one bowl of cereal.

This isn't just because of the aforementioned. Cereal is almost always made of at least somewhat-processed and refined carbohydrates, with little fat or protein to send signals of fullness and satiation to you brain. In addition, most cereals have ample added sugar, which is masked by pseudonyms. So we're contending with a highly pleasurable experience and we're fighting a losing blood sugar battle. No wonder!

What, then, can we do so that we don't have to give up cereal forever, or write it off as a moment of inevitable willpower breakdown?

I dunno, maybe find some healthier cereals and bulk them up with what they're missing...say, fiber from rolled oats, or protein from chia seeds, or healthy fats from coconut flakes?

Oh wait, that's what I did!!!! I created this homemade cereal so that you can still look forward the quintessential breakfast experience, while also receiving nourishment and satisfaction after 1 bowl. My mixture is packed with delicious flavor, all-kindsa good textures and an ingredient list you can be proud. I am CEREAL-SLY obsessed with this, and I've been eating it every single morning!

I will note that the first few mornings I had this cereal, I enjoyed a second smaller bowl. But it was a conscious choice, as I was figuring out how much I needed to feel full, as opposed to a mindless sugar-induced craving. Only you can determine how big your bowl should be, but when in doubt, chew slowly and mindfully and check in with your body.

Another awesome thing about this cereal is how it lasts in the pantry (tightly sealed), and it's more affordable than just eating boxed cereal, which can get 'spensive. Let me know if y'all give this a try, and have fun swapping out ingredients and cereals that suit your preference: just stick to short ingredient lists filled with recognizable whole-foods and low sugar counts.

 

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TOTAL TIME :1hour
10-12servings
INGREDIENTS
  • 4 cups rolled oats
  • 1/4 cup maple syrup
  • 1/4 cup melted coconut oil
  • 3/4 teaspoon almond extract (sub 1 1/4 tsp vanilla)
  • 1/4 cup chia seeds
  • 1/4 cup hemp seeds
  • 1/4 cup unsweetened coconut flakes
  • 1/4 cup sunflower seeds
  • 1 tablespoon cinnamon
  • 1/4 teaspoon sea salt
  • 3 1/2 cups low sugar whole grain flake cereal (I like Nature's Path brand)
  • 3 1/2 cups low sugar puffed rice or corn cereal (I like Envirokids brand)
  • 1/3 cup dried wild blueberries (sub cranberries or cherries)
  • 1/2 cup chopped dried strawberries (sub apricots, dates or more of the above)
DIRECTIONS
  1. Notes: *seeds can be substituted for equal amounts of each other, or sunflower or pumpkin seeds. **I look for 4 grams of sugar or less for every 3/4 cup, or 5 grams or less for every 1 cup
  2. Preheat oven to 300 degrees F and line two large baking sheets with parchment paper. In a LARGE mixing bowl, combine rolled oats, maple syrup, melted coconut oil, extract, chia seeds, hemp seeds, coconut flakes, sunflower seeds, cinnamon and sea salt. Use clean hands to toss everything together, coating evenly.
  3. Spread mixture across baking sheets in as even a layer as possible. I like to lightly dampen a spatula and pat down, which helps create an even layer without sticking. Bake oat mixture for 25-30 minutes, or until golden brown. Cool 20 minutes.
  4. While oats are cooling, wipe out that large mixing bowl (I don’t suggest washing unless you can get it 100% dry again. Otherwise, you’ll have soggy. To the mixing bowl, add your cereals and dried fruit. Once oat mixture has cooled, add to bowl and toss everything to combine.
  5. Allow cereal to cool completely, around 1 hour, before adding to air-tight containers. Cereal will keep up to two weeks tightly sealed at room temperature.
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