I’ve recently tried a new variation on my Strawberry Granola Yogurt from last year that adds some more nutrition and tastes just as good. I still start with about 3/4-1 cup of my plain homemade yogurt (it has just occurred to me that I’ve never posted how I make that so I will try to get it up this week!), but you could also use Greek yogurt or plain yogurt (preferably with active cultures) from your local store.
If you use a store-bought flavored yogurt, such as vanilla, you can omit adding any sweetener as most brands will have sugar added to these flavors. However, I’ve found that it’s very easy to turn my plain yogurt into vanilla yogurt with a small amount of powdered stevia (a natural sweetener) and some pure vanilla extract.
If using plain yogurt, pour 3/4-1 cup into a bowl (I just mix it in the bowl I’m going to eat out of) and then stir in 1-1.5 tsp flax oil and 1-1.5 tsp of honey (you can adjust this amount to your sweet tooth). I make sure to use raw local honey, which still offers all the nutrients and health benefits it should since it has not been pasteurized and processed. The flax oil provides a good source of alpha-linolenic acid, an Omega 3 fatty acid, which is often lacking in typical American diets, and can offer health benefits such as helping to protect your heart and even lowering your cholesterol (more benefits noted here).
To top off my yogurt, I add about 1.5 tsp wheat germ (which I found in the refrigerated section of my local health store for right around $1) and a sprinkle of organic flax seeds. Wheat germ is a small part of the wheat kernel; high in protein and containing twenty three nutrients, which is more than any other grain or vegetable. For the finishing touches on the yogurt, I add 1/4 cup frozen berries and my nutritious snack is ready!
