How To Make Healthy Cereal

Store-bought cereals often contain excessive sugar, which can lead to health problems over time. According to MayoClinic.com, consuming too much sugar may cause tooth decay, poor nutrition, weight gain and a high level of triglycerides in the blood. Heavily processed cereals may also contain large amounts of sodium, fat and cholesterol. Making your own healthy cereal at home allows you to control the ingredients, which is especially helpful if you follow a diabetic or low-sodium diet plan. Top your homemade cereal with skim milk or low-fat yogurt and fresh fruit for a healthy, satisfying breakfast or dessert.

Step 1

Preheat the oven to 325 degrees F.

Step 2

Combine the rolled oats, nuts, wheat germ and ground cinnamon in a large mixing bowl, stirring until thoroughly mixed.

Step 3

Pour the canola oil into a small mixing bowl and stir in the honey. Drizzle the oil and honey evenly over the oat mixture, while turning with a spoon to thoroughly coat it. Clumps may form, but they will break up during baking.

Step 4

Spread the cereal evenly in the bottom of a 9 --- 13-inch baking pan and place the pan in the preheated oven. Bake for 25 to 30 minutes or until golden brown. Turn the cereal every 10 minutes during baking with a metal spatula to break up clumps and encourage even toasting.

Step 5

Remove the pan from the oven and place on a wire rack. Allow the cereal to cool to room temperature and stir in the dried fruit. Place the cereal in an airtight container and store for up to one month before discarding any unused portion.

Tips and Warnings

Use any type of nuts you have on hand. Sliced almonds add crunch and flavor while keeping fat and calories low. According to the World's Healthiest Foods website, almonds are a good source of manganese, vitamin E, magnesium and copper. Other nuts, such as pecans and walnuts, also provide essential nutrients. Dried fruits such as apricots, bananas, raisins, prunes, figs and dates add texture, sweetness and nutrients to your homemade cereal. Dried fruits are a rich source of carbohydrates, fiber, vitamins and minerals, according to the European Food Information Council. Dried apricots provide the most potassium and sodium and dried bananas have the most magnesium. Raisins and dates contain more calories than other types of dried fruit and figs have the most calcium. Use whatever you have on hand or purchase dried fruit based on your nutritional needs. This recipe yields approximately 8½-cup servings. Made with sliced almonds and dried apricots, each serving contains 204 calories, 6.9g fat, 7.5mg protein, 3.1g dietary fiber, 0mg cholesterol, 3mg sodium and 29.7g carbohydrates. Nutritional values may vary slightly if you use different nuts or dried fruits.