HEALTHY MUESLI RECIPE (VEGAN BREAKFAST WITH NOTES ON HOW IT BENEFITS YOUR SKIN)

This no-fuss homemade muesli is easy to mix up, packed full of goodness to nourish your body and can store for a good month in an airtight container.

I started making this years ago when the choice in supermarket aisles, though overwhelmingly large, didn't really satisfy my families needs. Many were too high in sugar, and others were mostly oats. The ones that did potentially fit my criteria would cost a fortune and last only a few days in our house.

Since then, the price for good quality muesli has gone up exponentially (hasn't everything?!) and I'm not desperate enough to even think about mass-produced, highly processed, cereals packed with added sugar and refined carbs (and often misleading health claims).

But, to be honest, after making this muesli for so long, my family and I would choose a bowl of our homemade muesli over any store-bought option, even the fancy expensive ones!

So, let's share this easy, healthy, skin-loving muesli recipe with you!

How To Make Healthy Home-Made Muesli

Preheat the oven to 180 degrees.

Get a big bowl to mix the following dry ingredients in, or if you have a huge jar pop everything in there to mix it up:

• 2 1/2 cups rolled oats
• 1 cup almonds (sliced if you prefer, as we do, but the whole almond is okay too)
• 1/2 cup sesame seeds
• 1/2 cup sunflower seeds
• 1 cup pepita (pumpkin) seeds
•  1/2 cup unsweetened coconut flakes
•  1/2 - 3/4 cup cranberries or other dried fruit (optional)
•  1/2 cup hemp seeds (optional)
•  2 tablespoons of chia seeds
•  1 1/2 tablespoons ground cinnamon
•  3/4 teaspoon Himalayan salt

Combine the following in a saucepan and warm gently:

• 1/2 cup coconut oil
• 1/2 cup maple syrup
• Add a teaspoon of vanilla essence if you like

Once the coconut oil and maple syrup are fully melted, pour the wet ingredients through the dry and stir to coat the mix thoroughly. Spread the mixture into a single layer on a baking paper-lined baking tray (I usually have to do this in two batches), and place them in the oven.

After five minutes, pull the muesli out and stir it. Bake for five more minutes, until the nuts and seeds are browning gently. Then, pull it out for one more mix and pop it back in for 2-5 minutes. Keep an eye on it at this stage - it is so close to being done!

Allow the granola to cool before storing in an airtight container.

Health & Skin Benefits Of The Muesli's Ingredients:

Oats:

Helping strengthen our immune system, oats form the most widely consumed breakfast alternative, but it is important to note that oat and oatmeal are different. Oats are unprocessed while oatmeal is the processed oats used in cereal or porridge. Oats come with a host of benefits like regulating blood sugar level and reducing the risk of heart diseases, among other things.

Almonds:

Almonds are a fantastic source of antioxidants, and these antioxidants manage to build up in cell membranes in your body, protecting your cells from oxidative damage, which can damage molecules in your cells and contribute to inflammation, ageing and diseases like cancer. Almonds are among the world's best sources of vitamin E, with just 1 ounce providing 37% of the RDI.

Sesame Seeds

Sesame seeds boast a combination of vitamins and minerals. They are one of the healthiest foods in the world, and a rich source of natural oils, lignans, antioxidants, protein, dietary fibre, and vitamins and minerals. They are a nutritious source of plant protein and may help reduce heart disease risk factors, including elevated triglyceride and "bad" LDL cholesterol levels.

Sunflower Seeds

For a tiny seed, they pack a lot of goodness and are exceptionally high in vitamin E and selenium which function as antioxidants to protect your body's cells against free radical damage.  They are a good source of helpful plant compounds, including phenolic acids and flavonoids (which also function as antioxidants).

Pumpkin Seeds

These little seeds provide you with an abundant quantity of healthy fats, magnesium and zinc and are associated with several health benefits. These include improved heart health, prostate health and protection against certain cancers. They are an excellent natural source of magnesium and zinc. Just one tablespoon of pumpkin seeds provides:

• Almost 1mg zinc - the recommended daily allowance is 9.5mg for men and 7mg for women. 

• 40mg magnesium – the recommended daily allowance is 300mg for men and 270mg for women.

Related Article: Drink this Green Smoothie Every Day for Glowing Skin!