Homemade Tropical Granola

Do you get summer cravings like I do? I eat oatmeal for breakfast all winter long, and suddenly when the weather heats up, I just can’t do it anymore. It doesn’t help that our condo gets really hot – so the last thing I want is to 1) turn on the oven and 2) eat anything hot. I could eat granola and cold milk for breakfast and dinner all summer. Except for one thing.

The reason that granola usually tastes so good is that it’s loaded with sugar and extras that turn the once-healthy oats into a dessert-like substance. Luckily granola is really simple to make – so this summer, I took matters into my own hands. In my homemade granola, I add what should NOT be a surprise to you anymore… a tropical flair. Instead of baking my oats with canola oil, I use coconut oil. Not only does it taste better, but coconut oil is actually good for you, folks. And instead of sweeteners, I let the natural sugars of dried topical fruits like papaya, coconut and mango flavor the oats. I also add chia seeds and wheat germ to make this recipe even more filling and yet also guilt-free. The best combination, am I right?