Vegan Granola Recipes: September Sugar Free Granola

Here in New Hampshire, the leaves are already changing color. It is a sign that summer is ending, and autumn is just around the corner. The daytime temperatures offer no indication of the upcoming change of season. It has been incredibly hot and humid, with temperatures averaging in the 90’s every day. But as the sun slowly sets each evening, the cool air sweeps in and we reach for those extra layers. When the seasons turn, I revisit each meal with the intention to balance my body according to Ayurvedic principles. Ayurveda is the ancient Indian system of holistic healing, in which all of nature is divided into three doshas, or element qualities: Pitta is Fire and Water, Vata is Air and Ether, and Kapha is Earth and Water. Each season is governed by one of these doshas as well. We are moving from the summer Pitta season into the autumn Vata season. It is a slow transition that happens over the month of September. At times we still feel the heat of Pitta, and at other times we feel the cool Vata breeze. As we stroll into Vata season, we can keep our bodies in balance and better defend against those impending sneezes and sniffles, by eating foods that are dense, oily, and rich, to nourish us through the colder seasons. For breakfast, I usually whirl up a smoothie during the summer. Produce is abundant all summer, and I enjoy a rich, luscious, green smoothie. But these early September mornings I have been craving granola. Thick rolled oats, lightly toasted with a variety of nuts, topped with some fresh almond milk. The carbohydrates leave me feeling full, and the protein in the nuts gives me plenty of energy to tackle the day’s teaching schedule and to bring in the remains of our garden’s harvest. This granola recipe is simple, takes just a few minutes to put together, and is unsweetened. I prefer my granola unsweetened, as too much sugar in the morning makes me feel nauseous. My husband prefers his granola sweetened, so he adds a spoonful of maple syrup to his bowl. What I love about granola is you can make it your own by adding or subtracting any number of ingredients. If you love almonds, add more! If you prefer cashews, use fewer almonds, etc. If you choose to add dried fruits like raisins, you will want to add them after you roast the granola. Otherwise, they will burn.