Every athlete knows he/she has to power up before a game or practice to sustain his/her energy. This granola is a great source of energy for the athletes in the family. I will make it in bunches, then store it in a food safe container. I love glass jars for everything in my pantry, it’s a must! Then, the kids (and my husband) can see everything. Here is the recipe.

Directions:
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Line a large cookie sheet with parchment paper, so nothing will stick. In a large mixing bowl, mix together sweetened shredded coconut (organic is great if you have it), add it to the quick minute oats (I like Quaker Oats). Put them on the cookie sheet and bake at 350 degrees for a quick 8 minutes. Add it back to the bowl. In a separate bowl, mix the brown sugar and melted butter or margarine, add a hint of vanilla. Then add a sprinkle of sea salt, and wheat germ to the coconut and oats (the dry ingredients). Mix the wet ingredients with the dry ingredients.

Then, get creative, of course, isn’t that the fun part. You can do cranraisins and golden raisins together or just add dark chocolate chips. If your kids bring the granola to practice, avoid chocolate as it will melt in the warmer months. Pour the mixture back onto the cookie sheet. In a small pot, melt the honey (or a few seconds in the microwave) then drizzle over the granola, and put back in the oven for about 20 minutes. It should get a golden color, but keep an eye on it, oven temperatures can vary. Let it cool for 10 minutes and serve. This is great on top of a thick strawberry/raspberry shake! Yum!

Quick oats
If you don’t have the time to bake, try this recipe. Store about 3/4 cup quick oats, a tablespoon of brown sugar and a few tablespoons of shredded coconut and hint of cinnamon in a mason jar in your pantry. When you are ready for breakfast or a pre-workout snack, add boiling water and wait 1 minute. You could swirl in some honey and golden raisins too, to make it extra sweet and delicious. Take it on the go!