Tag: handmade granola

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Natural Granola Ingredients We Love to Use in our Recipes

natural granola ingredients like almonds

Take one scroll through the recipes on our blog and you’ll know that we take food seriously. Especially when that food includes natural, healthy ingredients that keep us fuller longer and satisfy our taste buds (even that finicky sweet tooth!). At Little Red Wagon Granola, you can find delicious, natural granola ingredients in every bag. 

Natural granola ingredients make all the difference 

Like most of our customers, we love a good snack. But when it comes to snacks (or breakfast or, really, any food), we go for those that keep us full and are full of flavor. That’s why we made it our mission from the beginning to use natural granola ingredients. And choosing natural ingredients means we can also fulfill our goals of sustainability, sourcing local, and honoring our farmer’s market roots. 

If we had to narrow it down, these ingredients make all the difference in our granolas. 

Healthy fats

Whether you like the richness of Mocha or the citrus-zing from Cosmopolitan, you’ll notice that each granola flavor we offer includes nuts like almonds and pecans. This is because the unsaturated fats and Omega-3 fatty acids found in nuts are the “good” heart-healthy ones that can do things like lower cholesterol, reduce inflammation, and improve the lining of your arteries. In other words, nuts are nature’s little heart helpers.   

Recipe to try: These Red Velvet Overnight Oats contain Mocha granola and hidden veggies. 

Natural sweeteners

Our granolas get their sweetness from fruits like apples, bananas, cranberries, and oranges. So the next time you finish a bowl of Crunchy Monkey or sneak a few handfuls of Big Apple, know that you’re getting the added benefits of fiber, vitamins, and antioxidants. 

Recipe to try: Big Apple Granola and unsweetened applesauce make these Big Apple Granola Muffins the perfect way to satisfy a sweet craving. 

Flavorful spices 

What’s the point of good-for-you food if it doesn’t also taste good? Our natural granola packs a punch in the flavor department due to delicious ingredients and flavorful spices like our go-to: cinnamon. Besides adding that extra special something to our bags cinnamon is loaded with antioxidants, is anti-inflammatory, and can lower blood sugar levels. 

Recipe to try: These Magic Bars made with our Original granola are truly, well, magical. 

Add a little something extra with our natural granola 

With healthy fats, natural sweeteners, and flavorful spices, it’s no wonder that our granola is a go-to for so many—and satisfies those cravings! So, the next time you’re looking for a snack, the perfect topping, or that oh-so-special addition to a recipe, look no further than our natural granola. 

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Little Red Wagon Granola: Hand Making the Best Granola Since 2004

best granola from little red wagon granola

We think it’s one of life’s simple pleasures to open a new bag of granola. The sweet blend of spices and nuts hits you first—making your mouth water and stomach grumble. The clusters bounce into the bowl and each crunchy, delicious bite is the best granola you’ve ever tasted. At Little Red Wagon Granola, we’ve been hand making these moments since 2004. 

We take making the best granola seriously 

At our company, we have serious fun. Making the best granola is a big deal to us and something that we take seriously from every oat to delivery route. But it’s also fun—something you can tell from our colorful bags to our creative flavors. And while there are a lot of granola clusters in the ring, we think these three reasons separate us from the rest: 

Made by hand, not machines

We like to think you can taste the difference in our handmade granola. Our baking team spreads each cluster from each bag by hand. By choosing to hand spread instead of relying on a machine, we can control the perfect cluster sizes for optimal granola-eating. 

On a mission for holistic health 

Life and granola are meant to be balanced. We’re on a mission for holistic health, which we think makes a difference between good and “the best” granola. If you read our past blogs, you know we’re all about healthy people, a healthy planet, and healthy food. We’re working toward these goals from our company culture and work-life balance to our sustainable packing and wholesome ingredients. 

Family values in every bite 

Finally, we think we have the best granola because you can taste our values. We started small at the Chapel Hill Farmer’s Market in North Carolina (some of you may remember us!) with a family-oriented husband and wife team that wanted to create and share delicious granola. We’ve gone through growth and new ownership, but we’re still family-owned and operated. More than this, we treat our customers like family. That’s because each of you is responsible for making our granola what it is.

Crafting the best granola since 2004 

At the end of the day, making the best granola means making it with heart. From hand spreading the clusters to focusing on balance and family values, we pour our values into each and every bag. 

 

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“Is Granola Good For You?” And Other Top Questions Our Team Answers

is granola good for you, granola in glass jar

When you think of granola, what comes to mind? Crunchy clusters? Salty nuts? Sweet add-ins? In between bites of these delicious clusters, you may wonder: “Is granola good for you?” The Little Red Wagon Granola team knows a thing or two about this balanced snack, so we’re answering this question and more! (Hint: it’s full of goodness). 

 

#1: Is granola good for you? 

We should outline our stance on this question first: we believe everything in life is about balance. So your answer to the question “is granola good for you?” probably depends on what type of granola you’re talking about. While we can’t speak for others, we can speak to our six delicious flavors and why we think granola is good for you: 

 

Good ingredients: A couple of months ago, we outlined the “healthy food” tier of our values. We use the highest quality ingredients in each bag of granola. Plus, they’re sustainably sourced and local when possible. And each cluster has a good-for-you mix of healthy fats, whole grains, and no artificial ingredients. 

 

Good snacking alternative: If your regular snacks include candy or chips, granola is a healthy snacking alternative. It’s versatile enough to be eaten with other healthy foods like plain Greek yogurt. But it’s delicious enough to eat on its own––plus, the healthy fats and protein keep you fuller, longer. 

 

Good for the soul: When you munch on a flavor like Cosmopolitan or Crunchy Monkey, it’s almost impossible to keep a smile off your face. 

 

#2: What’s in your granola? 

We admit this is related to “is granola good for you,” but we get this question a lot! While each ingredient list varies slightly by flavor, they all have a balanced mix of oats, brown sugar, nuts (like almonds or pecans), fruits (like raisins or bananas), whole wheat flour, butter, eggs, milk, cinnamon, salt, and baking soda. We can guarantee that our ingredients are easy to pronounce, sourced sustainably, and of the highest quality we can find. 

 

#3: Where can I find LRWG granola? 

If you’re on the East Coast or in the South, you can find our granola at your local Whole Foods or Fresh Market. (Check out our handy store finder here!). As we work to expand across the rest of the states, you can order granola right here in our online shop. 

 

#4: Favorite granola recipes? 

Our recipes will have you switching from “is it good for you” to “it’s SO good.” 

 

Oatmeal cranberry cookies with Cosmopolitan 

Easy baked oatmeal with Crunchy Monkey 

Red velvet overnight oats 

Green oatmeal raisin muffins 

Crunchy Monkey banana peanut butter mug cake

Blackberry-lemon granola cookie bars 

 

So, is granola good for you? We sure think so!  

Life’s too short not to eat what makes you happy. But we hope this helps you snack guilt-free! Little Red Wagon Granola is handcrafted with good-for-you ingredients and flavors in every bite! 

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Think You Know How to Eat Granola? Switch Things Up with These 3 Tips

how to eat granola, bowl with granola and yogurt

If you’ve been a long-time granola fan like us, you probably have a specific way you indulge in the crunchy treat. Are you a purist and only take your granola with cow’s milk? Or is yogurt and granola the only combination you’ll consider? At Little Red Wagon Granola, we love to mix up our snacking, so we’ve put together a “how to” eat granola with sweet tips from our team. 

I know how to eat granola, don’t I? 

It seems simple enough: pour granola into a bowl, top with milk or yogurt, enjoy. When it comes to how to eat granola, that’s about as classic as you can get. But once you add in the possibilities of dairy-free or plant-based milk or Icelandic versus Greek yogurt, even simple go-tos can become complicated. 

If you’re ready to try something new in your granola routine, the following options are some of our team’s favorites. 

Try it as a unique topping 

Granola is known for its crunch, which makes it a great topping. But instead of sprinkling it over yogurt, try adding those crunchy clusters to ice cream, frozen yogurt, pudding, custard, or even fruit puree. We’re partial to the Cosmopolitan flavor over a citrus sorbet. On a hot summer evening, there’s almost nothing more refreshing.  

Or as the crust to a cheesecake 

These days, tart and cheesecake recipes are all over social media––and we’ve seen some pretty inventive ones! Secretly, we’re crust fans so why not add our favorite snack in the mix? Instead of making an Oreo or graham cracker crust, throw some granola (our favorite is Original, but go crazy!) into a food processor, mix in butter, and pat down into a tart dish or springform pan. From there, the flavor combinations are endless. A blueberry vegan cheesecake with Lemon Drop crust? Perfect. Or what about a chocolate peanut butter tart with Crunchy Monkey crust? You’ll be the envy of the picnic.  

How about in a baked good?

With a few more ingredients and some imagination, you can transform granola into a baked good that will rival any bakery. The distinctive crunch in these clusters, with good-for-you nuts, makes them the perfect addition for baked favorites like granola cookie bars and baked oatmeal. Trust us, you may never go back to your milk-and-granola breakfast again after trying those. 

Our favorite “how to” eat granola? On its own! 

With all that said, you really can’t go wrong with snacking on our granola all by itself. We pride ourselves on unique and delicious flavors that will satisfy you on the go, on their own, or when you need to mix things up. Did our “how to eat granola” tips inspire you? Try all the flavors here! 

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5 Summer Activities That Pair Perfectly With Our Handmade Granola Flavors

handmade granola flavors in wagon with little girl

Summertime is full of possibilities. With warmer temps and longer nights, the activities range from long hikes to movie nights. We’re always thinking about the perfect snacks to fuel us for all of summer’s adventures––what better way than with our handmade granola flavors? Here are our top five summer activities and snack pairings. 

 

Hiking fuel that goes the distance

We’ve mentioned before that our handmade granola is full of good-for-you fiber and balanced nutrition. When you’re taking a hike on those hot summer days, you need food that will keep you fueled. Little Red Wagon Granola has the perfect blend of healthy fats, proteins, and carbs to keep you energized mile after mile. We suggest munching on the granola by itself. Try the Original or Lemon Drop, they’re both easy to eat by the handful. Or, make your own trail mix with the chocolate-packed Crunchy Monkey and your choice of nuts, seeds, and other mix-ins. 

 

The perfect picnic pair  

A picnic is a perfect excuse to enjoy good food in nature. Pick your favorite park, trail, or even your backyard to enjoy a spread of delicious, snackable foods. Make it unique with a breakfast picnic complete with yogurt and granola parfaits (we recommend Mocha) or a dessert picnic with an assortment of toppings, including granola crumbles! 

 

Handmade granola for the road 

Road tripping is the ultimate summer adventure. We know it’s easy (and even part of the fun!) to grab unhealthy road snacks, but our handmade granola is the perfect alternative. Bring along the Original flavor (no chocolate means no melting) for the perfect crunch while you play I Spy or sing 99 Bottles. 

 

Park day crunchies 

On those perfect, cloudless days, the park is full of endless summer activities. Whether you’re spending all day at the playground, reading a book in the shade, or riding bikes on a park trail, you’ll need snacks. Our variety pack of handmade granola flavors packs the perfect punch and crunch for an all-day park marathon. Plus, the different flavor choices are sure to satisfy cravings for even the pickiest eaters. 

 

Outdoor movie night go-to

There’s almost nothing better than ending a day of adventuring with a movie under the stars. And, we don’t know about you, but no movie night is complete without snacks in our house. We suggest mixing granola with popcorn for a fun crunch, adding it to ice cream, or making chocolate bark with granola and other fun add-ins. 

For grown-up fun, pair Cosmopolitan with fancy movie drinks or Mocha with an espresso to keep you awake during all-night marathons. 

 

Handmade granola for all summer’s adventures

Summer activities are some of our favorites and are, like most things, made better with snacks. We love to pair our handmade granola flavors in ways the whole family can enjoy, and ways that keep us fueled for the next adventure.