Let me just say, I’ve really never been a huge granola fan. Growing up I don’t recall thinking “oh man I could go for some granola right now!” Sure I would put it on my yogurt every now and then as a kid or throw it on my occasional cup of fro-yo but it was never a statement purchase my mom picked up from the grocery store. As I became older and more health conscious, realizing how much sugar was packed into granolas, I opted out in general. With so much added sugar, I could easily just throw some oats onto my yogurt or create my own trail mix and rather have that added sugar somewhere else.
I always figured I would never find a granola with satisfying ingredients until I discovered the brand, Purely Elizabeth. I have mentioned them in a few of my posts including my recipes for smoothie bowls and pancakes. I cannot get over them. The problem with their granola? Super pricey! But hey, I don’t blame them. With good ingredients, I always tell people, you get what you pay for. At Whole Foods a bag of granola is around $7.50 but recently they have been released at Target for only $6! There is a god. When I received a package from them a few weeks ago with two bags of granola (blueberry hemp and original) and a bag of their ancient grain hot cereal I pretty much freaked out. Since I had never tasted the oatmeal/cereal before I could not wait to try it in an overnight oats recipe.
My first overnight oats with the hot cereal was a success. All I had to do was put a serving into a mason jar (1/3 cup) with around 1/2 cup milk and let it soak overnight in the fridge. I added some blackberries, strawberries and a nectarine too. In the morning I sliced up a frozen banana and a dollop of the creamiest peanut butter in the world from Earth Balance.
The verdict? I would give it a 8/10 just because it was a bit too crunchy. I’m not a huuuge crunchy-things-in-my-oatmeal kinda person. I love hemp seeds and all on my oats or in my smoothies every now and then but it was a lot at once. The ingredients list features hemp seeds, chia seeds, flax seeds, amaranth, buckwheat groats AND oatmeal. Oh and quinoa! How much more protein can ya get? In one serving it delivered 7 grams of protein so it is quite nutritious but all of the crunch got to me. I won’t lie though, it was delicious nonetheless.
Next on my Purely Elizabeth food saga… the blueberry hemp granola! The first item (and favorite) I first tried from the company. I love it because not only does it include a small list of ingredients but it features coconut oil and coconut sugar, which has a low-glycemic index. Code word for its a healthier sugar variation and doesn’t spike your blood sugar. Like all of Purely Elizabeth’s products, the granola is vegan, organic, hand baked and non-GMO project verified.
I usually will pair mine with oatmeal but I decided to be simple and put some on top of plain So Delicious coconut milk yogurt, a few blackberries, blueberries and a banana. Light, creamy, nutrient dense and a great start to your morning. I find myself grabbing handfuls out of the bag all the time and its perfect for an on-the-go snack. Clearly I’m not the only one who thought of it as an on-the-go snack since the brand sells them in mini 2oz packages. How friggin’ cute!
I could go on for days and days on how much I love their granola. It is so versatile and you can really add it to anything. I love throwing some handfuls into a zip-loc baggy and with a single serving carton of almond milk when I’m going to the library or a coffee shop on campus. It’s a good topping for desserts and muffins too! I would give this a 10/10 rating… and then some.
Of course I love the taste the granola has with the squishy dried blueberries and sweetened sunflower seeds but I also love the message Purely Elizabeth sends. They want to take the most basic foods America is used to and make them nutrient-filled. Why have cereal filled with artificial colors and preservatives when you can have something just as sweet and better for you? That’s what more people need to understand. Eating cereal and oatmeal is not about how many calories are in it, it is about the INGREDIENTS used. Elizabeth’s granolas and cereals can pack your day with omega-3 fatty acids, protein and vitamin B whereas a cup of oatmeal with brown sugar at Starbucks or bowl of Lucky Charms could not do the same.
And if you think Purely Elizabeth just does granola and oats, oh believe me it does not stop there. They also have a line of pancake and cookie mixes! Umm… count me in?! For the cookies they sell chocolate chip and oatmeal cherry chocolate chip. No eggs. No white flour. No white sugar. Simple yet higher quality ingredients such as almond flour, chia seeds and vegan chocolate.
To-die-for.
-Addie
