Granola is a crunchy breakfast food made from rolled oats mixed with sweeteners like honey or maple syrup, then baked until golden and crispy. Most granola also includes nuts, seeds, and dried fruits. You might eat it with milk like cereal, sprinkle it over yogurt, or grab a handful as a snack.

Granola became especially popular in the 1960s and 1970s among people interested in natural foods and healthy eating. This association was so strong that people started using granola as an adjective to describe someone with an earthy, natural lifestyle. If someone calls a person “granola,” they usually mean that person enjoys hiking, cares about the environment, prefers natural products, and maybe wears sandals or fleece vests. It's often meant as a gentle, humorous observation rather than an insult.

Interestingly, while granola has a reputation as health food, many store-bought versions contain quite a bit of sugar. The oats, nuts, and seeds do provide good nutrition, but that sweetness and crunch that make granola so tasty come from ingredients that can be similar to what you'd find in cookies.