mondomulia

Yes, I made it, I completed the Food for Runners challenge! The goal was to post one healthy recipe a week for 10 weeks to support my fiancé's nutrition and boost his energies in the lead up to the Rome Marathon.

The M-day has nearly arrived and tonight we are flying to Rome where the marathon will take place on Sunday. While Sandy is cheerful and positive as usual, I'm in full panic mode!

I've done my research on training and nutrition and I've asked tips to fellow marathon runners. Recently I discovered Never Home Maker blog, which has got lots of useful running tips! I'm following their "Marathon Week Taper" recommendations and find myself sending threating texts to poor Sandy, such as "don't eat carbs today!" one day, "eat carbs today!" the next day or "remember to eat fresh fruit!" and "don't eat too much cake!". I have also convinced him to take "ice baths" after long runs and booked him a "decontracting massage" for the morning after.

Honestly, I'm freaking out, please let this nonsense be over soon! ;)

In the hope of calming myself down, I focused on preparing the MOST AMAZING GRANOLA I have ever tasted! Supermarket granola brands are going to taste bland from now on. This is one very tasty and spiced mix! I adapted the recipe from Can Be Bribed With Food blog and tried the granola with different combinations: yogurt and fresh fruit, flaxseed and milk, or simply sprinkled on fresh strawberries! I even found Sandy eating it straight out of the jar! We are obsessed! :)

Ingredients

* 2 cups large oats * 1/2 cup flaked almonds * 1/2 cup pecans roughly chopped * 1 tsp cinnamon powder * 1 tsp ground ginger * 1 cup coconut * 1/2 tsp black pepper * 1/4 tsp salt * 1/8 cup vegetable oil * 1/4 cup honey or golden syrup * 1/4 cup brown sugar (I used Muscovado) * 1/2 tsp vanilla extract * 1/4 cup green pumpkin seeds * 1/2 cup dried cranberries or raisins

Preparation

Preheat the oven to 160°C and line a large baking tray with baking paper.

In a bowl mix oats, almonds, pecans, coconut, cinnamon, ginger, pepper and salt. Do not add the pumpkin seeds and the cranberries to the mix yet!

In a separate bowl stir together the oil, sugar, golden syrup and vanilla extract. Pour the liquid over the oat/nut mix and stir until well coated.

Spread out onto the baking sheet. Bake for 20-30' or until golden, stirring a few times. Remove from the oven and mix in the pumpkin seeds and cranberries.

Let it cool completely and store it in jars and tupperwares.

Sandy is running the Rome Marathon on Sunday 18th March to raise money for Leukaemia & Lymphoma Research and for Multiple Sclerosis Society. Show your support by fundraising his challenge here.