GRANOLA BASKETS WITH A BERRY CHIA JAM

This week Louise Murray, our in-house Integrated Health and Mindfulness Coach, has challenged our members to add more foods into their diet that help them stress less and boost their mood! Check out Louise’s latest video on the on-demand library. During this video, Lou provides our members with 12 good mood food suggestions!

Inspired by this, Evelyn has created this super simple and delicious breakfast recipe! This versatile recipe is great for the whole family - get the kids involved and get them to fill their granola baskets with their favourite berries! The baskets take just 10 minutes in the oven and can be baked the night before - ready to feed hungry mouths first thing - ensuring homeworking and home-schooling starts happy!

Evelyn has also shared her recipe for a berry chia jam - the perfect accompaniment and boost of good mood foods.

This recipe features 5 of Louise’s good mood foods:

• Omega 3 (Chia Seeds): Contain anti-inflammatory properties that counteract the negative effect of stress hormones

• Berries (blueberries, blackberries, blackcurrants and raspberries): Contain antioxidants and phytonutrients which help improve your bodies response to stress

• Seeds (Sunflower, Pumpkin, Sesame and Flaxseeds): Source of magnesium which regulates the nervous system as well as being responsible for muscle contraction and relaxation

• Bananas (high in vitamin B6): Produces feel good transmitters like dopamine and serotonin

• Oats (excellent source of fibre): Allow for a gradual release of sugar into the blood stream. This is important for controlling energy, mood and irritability and great for your gut!

Granola Baskets with Berry Chia Jam

Requires 1 cupcake tray (lightly greased with coconut oil)

Makes 6 granola baskets

Time to create: 20 minutes

Basket ingredients:

• 80g oats

• 20g mixed seeds (e.g. Sunflower, Pumpkin, Sesame)

• 1 ripe banana (mashed)

• 1 tbsp ground flaxseeds

• 3 tbsp maple syrup

• ½ tsp ground cinnamon

Berry Chia Jam ingredients:

• 100g frozen berries (blackberries and blackcurrants - can be your choice)

• 4 tbsp water

• Squeeze of lemon juice

• Splash of maple syrup (to taste)

Toppings:

• Yogurt

• Extra berries and anything else you fancy!

Method

Granola Baskets:

1. Preheat the oven to 180°C.

2. Stir together the ingredients for the basket in a mixing bowl until well combined           

3. Put a heaped tbsp of the mixture per basket and press onto the base and sides to form cup shapes.

4. Bake for 10 minutes until lightly golden.

5. Leave to cool before filling the baskets with yogurt, the chia jam and extra berries. You can store the unfilled cups in the fridge for 3 days.

Berry Chia Jam:

1. Place the berries, water and lemon juice in a small pan over a medium-low heat.

2. Cook until the berries are soft, and the mixture has thicken, about 10 minutes

3. Once soft, mash the berries using a fork.

4. Take off the heat and add the maple syrup and stir in the chia seeds. Leave to stand for 15 minutes, stirring halfway through.

Enjoy xxx