Granola
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Granola is a snack food consisting of nuts and rolled oats mixed with honey, and baked until crispy. During the baking process the mixture is stirred to maintain a loose, breakfast cereal type consistency. Dried fruit, particularly raisins or dates, are sometimes also added.
Besides being a snack food, granola is often eaten when hiking or camping because it is lightweight, high in energy, and easy to store, similar to trail mix.
The names Granula and Granola were trademarks in the late nineteenth century United States for foods consisting of whole grain products crumbled and baked until crispy. The food and name were revived in the 1960s, and fruits and nuts were added to it to make it a health food popular with the hippie movement. Granola made a major appearance at the 1969 Woodstock Music and Art Festival. The name is no longer trademarked.
More recently, granola bars have become popular as a snack. The first granola bars were identical to normal granola except for shape. Instead of a loose, breakfast cereal consistency, granola bars are pressed into a bar shape and baked into that shape. The result is a more convenient snack.
Another variety is the chewy granola bar. In this variety, the oats are not baked as long (or at all) for a chewy mouth-feel. Due to the more pleasing texture of chewy granola, it is at this time the most popular variety in the United States. Some question whether such a snack should be called granola at all; in fact, some manufacturers prefer cereal bar or snack bar.
Granola is perceived as being healtier than more traditional snacks, such as cookies or doughnuts. This is not strictly accurate, as many manufacturers have begun adding marshmallows, chocolate chips, peanut butter, and other ingredients not found in traditional granola. Although it is true these types of modern granola are closer to junk food, the still contain an amount of fiber and other nutrients (due to the lack of refined flours and oils) not found in other kinds of snacks.
"Granola" can also be slang for hippie-like or earthy.