National Granola Bar Day is observed on January 21 every year. The day is celebrated to honour this nutritious and energizing bar that has made our breakfast table and rescued us on a hectic workday. Granola has been around for over 150 years, and the name was a trademark. Granola is a food which is enjoyed across the world with many variations, both in the bar and the loose forms. It contains whole grains, nuts, and honey, brown sugar, or syrup. This mix is baked until crisp, toasted, and golden brown. Other ingredients that are used sometimes in making granola include raisins, dates, chocolate, and butter.
History of National Granola Bar Day
In 1863, The first granola variant granular, was invented by Dr. James Caleb Jackson. The doctor operated a health spa by the name Jackson Sanitarium, which is located on a hillside in Dansville, New York. He made it granular by crumbling Graham flour and baking it. To sell the cereal, he later formed Our Home Granula Company and trademarked the name Granula.
John Harvey Kellogg formulated a recipe like Jackson’s Granula in the late 1870s, somewhere in Michigan. Similarly, Kellogg was also managing a sanitarium and was looking to make the whole grain diet into something more appealing for his patients.
Kellogg made the cereal from wheat and oat flour, then hammered it into chunks and soaked it in milk. At first, he named this cereal granula but later changed it to granola to avoid a lawsuit with Jackson.
A few years later, fell out of popularity but was revived in the 1960s. Charles W. Post made the revival possible. He reinvented the original granula recipe and introduced grape nut as an ingredient.
However, other people also claimed to attribute the revival and reinvention to their efforts. One notable figure is the renowned hippie Wavy Gravy, who used granola to feed a large number of festival attendees.
Similarly, another such individual is Layton Gentry who created Layton Gentry’s Original Crunchy Granola, which was made using oats as the main ingredient.
Companies began making their variants and selling them commercially after the growing success of granola. The company named Pet Incorporated was the first company to introduce the first major commercial granola, Heartland Natural Cereal, in 1972.
Quaker Oats Company soon followed Pet Incorporated by introducing Quaker 100% Natural Granola. However, the
However, the company had to rename it to Harvest Crunch after Gentry threatened a lawsuit. A year later, Kellogg and General Mills introduced their granola products, Country Morning and Natural Valley, respectively.
Also read, National Coffee Break Day – January 20, 2025
Timeline of National Granola Bar Day
| 1863 (Granula is Born) | Dr. James Caleb Jackson invents granula, the first variant of granola, at Jackson Sanitarium in Dansville, New York. |
| 1870s (The Invention of Granola) | John Harvey Kellogg formulates a granula-like cereal recipe that later becomes granola |
| 1960s (The Reinvention of Granola) | Layton Gentry develops a granola recipe that uses oats as the main ingredient, becoming the blueprint for modern granola. |
| 1972 (The First Major Commercial Granola) | Heartland Natural Cereal is introduced to the market by Pet Incorporated. |
5 Interesting Facts About Granola
It has different names in different countries: Granola bars are recognized as muesli bars in Australia and New Zealand, and flapjacks in the U.K., Ireland, and the Isle of Man.
It is a trademark in Australia: The name ‘Granola’ is a trademark owned by the Sanitarium Health Food Company.
There is a Jewish variant: Matzo granola is a Jewish variant enioyed during the Passover holiday.
It was a trademark in the U.S.: Granola and its earlier variant, granula, were registered as trademarks in the U.S.
It’s cheaper to buy granola bars:
Making a granola bar at home will cost about 10% more than buying one at the store.
Frequently Ask Question
Who invented granola?
Granola’s origins trace back to Dr. James Caleb Jackson, who created the first variant called “granula” in 1863.
How did granola get its name?
The name “granola” was coined by John Harvey Kellogg to avoid legal issues with Dr. Jackson, who had trademarked the name “granula.”
Are granola bars healthy?
Granola bars can be healthy if they contain fiber, proteins, healthy fats, vitamins, and minerals. Look for those made from whole grains, nuts, and dried fruits.
You may also like to read, National Gluten-Free Day – January 13, 2025
