Product: Purely Elizabeth Pumpkin Fig Ancient Grain Granola Cereal – $7.99+
Granola is one of those foods that can walk a fine line between healthy and…not so healthy. It all comes down to the ingredients. I have had some really amazing gluten-free granola in the past…but my problem with it is that it is always laden with extra sugars. WHY?! Granola doesn’t have to be rich in sugar in order to taste good.
Proof is in the package – and in this case it’s Purely Elizabeth’s Pumpkin Fig Granola.
I admit, I was apprehensive about my choice to pick up the Pumpkin Fig Granola. My local Whole Foods store had a couple of other selections from Purely Elizabeth…but after looking at the Cranberry Pecan and the Original flavors, I decided to go with a flavor that no other gluten-free granola company had tackled yet. Pretty much any fruit would pair well with it…so that’s what I decided on. As to why I decided to hop brands to a different gluten-free granola…it wasn’t any reason, per se…just the fact that this one happened to be on the shelves at Whole Foods and caught my eye.
I like to utilize granola in fruity breakfast parfaits. I will layer it with vanilla Chobani yogurt and a fresh fruit of some sort, whether it’s fresh organic berries, kiwi, or apples and pears that I caramelize…it makes a nice change from having cereal every morning. So, it falls into rotation every other morning, normally when my roommate and I are not hitting up the gym for our 60 minute cardio and strength training.
What I loved, immediately, about Purely Elizabeth was that the items that the company produces are all natural and organic, using nutritious alternative grains and superfood seeds. The products are free of sugar, dairy, wheat and gluten. Loving it already. Purely Elizabeth founder, Elizabeth Stein, was perusing a career as a holistic nutrition counselor where she learned about the connection between what you eat and how you feel – specifically how sugar, wheat and dairy can negatively impact health. Her mission became simple…to create gluten-free and vegan products that were not overly processed that still tasted good. She totally succeeded.
This morning marked the inaugural tasting of the Purely Elizabeth Pumpkin Fig Granola. I was going to pair it with the vanilla Greek yogurt and some organic strawberries that came in my CSA bin. Pumpkin, fig, strawberry? Could it possibly work? Only one way to find out…but first…I needed to see if my palate was going to appreciate the flavor of Pumpkin and Fig together in this granola form. I reached into the pouch of granola and swiped a pinch of the ancient grain cereal. I popped it in my mouth…and knew it was going to be okay.
I loved how the pumpkin flavor wasn’t overpowering. Sometimes, as much as I love pumpkin, it can get to be a bit much. It can really take away from the product itself. And the balance of the sweet dry figs made the ideal blend. Match that with the variety of flavors and textures that come with the inclusion of gluten-free oats, organic puffed amaranth, organic quinoa flakes, organic pumpkin seeds, organic sunflower seeds, organic chia seeds, and the sweetness of the organic coconut palm sugar, and cinnamon…and what you have is a recipe for amazing flavor. Add in the organic raw virgin coconut oil and a hint of sea salt…and that’s what you’ll find in every bag of Purely Elizabeth Pumpkin Fig Ancient Grain Granola Cereal.
Amazing? You better believe it.
Even more amazing than the blend of flavors and textures is the nutritional value of a serving of this cereal. The combination of ingredients are all natural, organic, and gluten-free…the ancient grains all providing excellent sources of omega-3 fatty acids, fiber, and antioxidants. Loving that. One serving is 1/3 cup, which serves you up 140 calories and 6 grams of fat. Not too shabby. Especially since the fat content is derived from the raw virgin coconut oil, and this sort of fat gets used as energy, rather than stored. Loving that. A serving of this granola has only 6 grams of sugar and will provide you with 4 grams of protein. It is low in sodium (110 grams) as well. All the granola is hand baked and made with over 70% certified organic ingredients. No artificial colors or flavors are added either. Which means…what you see is what you get.
And what you get is a delicious blend of oats, seeds, ancient grains, and dried figs. And all together it provides a delicious, and not overpowering flavor to whatever you choose to add it to…or if you just enjoy it on its own with a splash of milk. Either way, you should feel good about the food you are eating. I feel good about choosing Purely Elizabeth and I highly recommend the Pumpkin Fig Ancient Grain Granola Cereal.
It’s different. It’s tasty. It’s purely…delicious.
The Celiathlete 