Sage Rountree’s Granola for Athletes
Serves 12
“My love of granola started nine years ago when I began teaching at the Kripalu Center for Yoga & Health. During my stay, they served delicious granola in the morning, and I missed it once I returned home. After some experimenting, I created this recipe filled with oats, nuts, and seeds. It tastes amazing with fresh yogurt and seasonal fruit. I make a giant batch every other month—it stores well and is a nice gift, too. In the summer I eat it with fresh strawberries, blueberries, or peaches. In the winter I add dried cherries; my daughter likes to add chocolate chips. Enjoy it for breakfast, or throw some in a bag for a satisfying snack to fuel all your athletic endeavors.”
INGREDIENTS
⅔ cup maple syrup
⅓ cup canola oil
4 cups rolled oats (not quick oats!)
1 cup almonds, chopped
1 cup sunflower seeds
1 cup unsweetened shredded coconut
½ cup sesame seeds
¼ cup flaxseeds
1½ tsp almond extract
1½ tsp vanilla extract
½ tsp salt
INSTRUCTIONS
Heat oven to 375°.
In a small saucepan over low heat, warm syrup and oil until syrup is less viscous, about 2 minutes.
In a bowl, combine oats, almonds, sunflower seeds, shredded coconut, sesame seeds, and flaxseeds.
Add almond extract, vanilla extract, and salt to saucepan. Pour maple mixture into dry ingredients in 2–3 batches, stirring until evenly combined.
Spread combined ingredients over a nonstick baking sheet (or a baking sheet lined with parchment paper) in a thin layer (not more than 1-inch thick), and bake for 15 minutes.
Rotate pan and bake until golden, another 15 minutes.
Let cool completely, break into nuggets, and store in a sealed container for up to 3 months.
NUTRITIONAL INFO 425 calories per serving, 25 g fat (4 g saturated), 44 g carbs, 5 g fiber, 10 g protein, 104 mg sodium
About the Author
Sage Rountree is an internationally recognized authority in yoga for athletes, an endurance sports coach specializing in athletic recovery, and the co-owner of several wellness businesses. Sage is the author of eight books, including The Athlete’s Guide to Yoga, Racing Wisely, Everyday Yoga, and, most recently, Lifelong Yoga, co-written with Alexandra DeSiato; Teaching Yoga Beyond the Poses is forthcoming. Sage’s classes, training plans, videos, books, and articles make yoga and healthy living accessible to everyone. Her goal is to help people find the right balance between work and rest for peak performance in sports and in life. Learn more at sagerountree.com.
