Boxed cereal can be found on sale for as little as $1 a box or $.10 a serving. I buy it at those prices and use it as part of my low-budget plan and steer towards low sugar, high fiber types. (Like bran flakes, and toasted oat rings.) I read an article that suggested even the low sugar varieties of boxed cereal aren’t as healthy as we hope.
Homemade Granola, soaked in yogurt to release even more vitamins, is a tasty alternative. I made my own version, which is still cooling and I can hardly keep my fingers out of the hot little bites.
Here’s the recipe I used: But you might also check out these sites: Seeking Faithfulness, Natural Health Information, Passionate Homemaking, Health Beings with Mom
6 cups rolled oats
1 1/2 cups whole wheat flour
1 cup plain skim yogurt
1/2 cup water
(Combine and soak overnight)
2 cups sunflower seeds
1 Tablespoon cinnamon
3/4 cup brown sugar
(Mix into the soaked mixture)
1/2 cup vegetable oil, 3/4 cup honey, 1 teaspoon salt (combine in a small saucepan and heat until well combined) Pour over the oat mixture until well combined.
Spread granola into greased cookie sheets in a thin layer. Mine took 3 small sheets.
Bake at 250 for 60 minutes, stirring and rotating pans after each 20 minutes interval. Switch the pans one final time and turn the oven off. Leave the pans in the oven as the oven cools down, or overnight. Add 1-2 cups raisins or craisins if desired and store in a air tight container.
Tips to make granola inexpensive:
1. Keep your ingredients simple. The more things you add such as wheat germ, coconut, and other nut mixtures, the higher the cost.
2. Use sunflower seeds in place of other nuts.
3. Use honey instead of maple syrup.
4. Buy your rolled oats at Aldi, from a food coop, or from a bulk food store.