Paleo Granola? Its Granola without the oats…

Are you missing something sweet and crunchy in your life now that you follow a Paleo lifestyle?  If you are I have some good news for you, Paleo People, a company launched in March 2010 by Founder and CEO Laura Keenan, has a product that can easily add some sweet and crunch back into you life – no baking or cooking required by you.  Paleo People specializes Paleo friendly granola, yes you read that right, this is granola that is Paleo…which means its grain, legume, and dairy free.  Granola is traditionally made with rolled oats and is something that is a sweet and crunchy treat that tops things like yogurt parfaits.  Paleo People has 4 different granola flavors, made with Paleo approved ingredients – nuts, seeds, fruits, spices and natural sweeteners like honey.  Laura sent me (another Laura, I know this is a little confusing adding another Laura to the mix – you should have seen our email chain!) some samples of Paleo People granola, all four flavors actually – one 5oz pouch of Apple Crisp, Banana Nut, Cacao Nut, and Cappuccino Crunch to try.  If you are Paleo or if you are sensitive to gluten (have celiac or some level of gluten sensitivity) Paleo People granola is definitely an option for you.  The Paleo People tagline is “snacks you can evolve with” all of the ingredients that are used in the Paleo People granola are things that our ancestors may have gathered – nuts, seeds, berries, fruit, spices, and natural sweeteners.  For those of us that are living on the east coast, Paleo People Granola may not be in stores near you yet, but Laura Keenan is working to get them there and you can order it online, which means it gets delivered directly to your door!

What do I like about Paleo People Granola?

• Tastes really good, watch out though its one of those things that’s easy to over-eat or “crack out” on especially if you’re eating it straight from the bag!
• Had a great crunch and yummy flavors with a hint of sweetness, and is gluten and wheat free, oh yeah and Paleo (duh otherwise I wouldn’t be eating it)
• Product that was inspired by our ancestors, not sure that cavemen really gathered nuts & seeds and then dried fruit and mixed it all together and kept it in a resealable pouch…but these are all foods that could have been available in paleolithic times and Paleo approved if you are following a Paleo lifestyle
• Uses coconut oil which is a healthy fat and is anti-microbal and satiating to help you feel full
• Great snack to take when backpacking – I didn’t try this backpacking this time (it is December which is usually cold on the east coast) but its definitely something I’m going to consider taking in my back on my next trip – besides I can’t eat much of the backpacking food anyway since most of it has gluten and/or dairy in it
• My favorite flavor – Cacao Nut!

I think this is a great food to get you started on the path to Paleo foods.  This is a much healthier choice than a regular granola, since it’s wheat and gluten free, and uses primarily natural sugar (honey) rather than processed sugars.  While this isn’t a food to eat every day I think its a great treat .

Some fun and delicious ways to enjoy Paleo People Granola:

• Top off a bowl of berries or other fruit
• Have a handful as a snack
• Throw into a salad for a sweet and crunchy twist
• Eat with almond milk or coconut milk and a spoon (of course!)
• Top baked apples with granola to make an apple crisp
• Top some coconut ice cream, find my recipe here

Paleo People granola would be a great gift for your paleo friends and is a nice treat to have for the holidays.  Use coupon code “PALEOHOLIDAY” to get 10% off and free shipping on all 8 and 12 pack orders.  Order a bunch and share with friends or give out as stocking stuffers.  This could be a great produce to convince some of your family and friends that following a Paleo lifestyle isn’t that bad after all you can still have granola if you want to.  I know that I’d be excited to see a pack of this under my tree or in my stocking this holiday

For those that are interested you see exactly what it is in Paleo People Granola, you can find the details on the Nutrition Information page.  The granola uses honey and dried fruit as sweeteners – which are usually the things to watch out for when looking to see if something really is Paleo once you know its grain, legume, and dairy free.  The Banana Nut flavor has dried cranberries that are sweetened with some sugar, so if you’re a super strict Paleo follower choose a different flavor; however, if you’re super strict Paleo then you already know that Paleo People Granola is a great treat but probably won’t be part of your every day foods and a little sugar in a cranberry may be something that’s ok with you when you’re enjoying a treat like this.  If you’re worried about portion control, get the 1 ounce packages instead of the 5 ounce ones.  Another idea is to order the larger package and then divide it into 5 servings in individual ziploc bags – use your quarter cup measuring cup to measure out one serving (1 oz) and then you’re set.  Just only eat one of your home-made servings at a time or you will undo all that prep that you took the time to try to keep you eating a reasonable amount!