Yogurt Concoction

My Japanese mother watches Japanese shows about health, particularly about superfoods, ingredients that work with your body in natural ways to boost immunity, strength, and even stature (supposedly gelatin is very important for this). I usually chuckle a bit when she shares her supported-by-the-medical-community knowledge, but really I should be listening a little more closely, since she’s one of the healthiest people I know.
One food that I did adapt into my regular routine was her yogurt regimen. I think it was definitely more about taste and less about health benefits, but it’s easy to see that it’s good for you.
This concoction contains a fair to large amount of protein, calcium, good mono-unsaturated fats, living cultures for your intestines, nutritious fiber, and a little sweetness for an energizing morning meal or afternoon snack. Another element of this is “oligo sugar” which is some sort of honey-like sugar syrup that supposedly is not digested by your body like regular sugar, so therefore adds no calories (even though it shows that it has calories on the nutrition label). It is carbohydrate free. Supposedly, it also is very good for your intestinal tract. I say all this with not much scientific knowledge about this product, and my endorsement is only that it tastes good (like not-too sweet honey, and none of that strong-honey taste), and my mother believes in it. You can find the stuff at Japanese markets easily enough.
If you don’t have any, agave syrup is just as tasty. The whole concoction tastes sweet, has pleasant mouth feel, a slight tang, and a strong nuttiness, which I love.
My mother believes that the banana is just as important as the rest of it, but I forget now what the Japanese doctors say about it. She’ll probably call me up to tell me later.
To the original recipe, I added my own touch: the granola. I think it’s very important to have the granola. I always put it in. I received a tastemaker opportunity through foodbuzz to try their Special K granola, and I was happy to see that it’s lower in fat than most granola out there. Granola is, for some reason, always loaded with fat. It doesn’t stop me, but it lowers my portions. I just like a little granola in there for crunch. This granola, especially, is VERY crunchy, and tasty. No soggy granola in my concoction today.
Yogurt Concoction (serves 1)

• 3/4 C PLAIN yogurt (I doubt it would taste good with anything else)
• 1 T powdered milk
• 1 tsp tahini paste
• 1 T slivered almonds
• 2 t wheat germ
• 1 t oligo sugar/boso honey or agave syrup
• 1/4 C granola
• 1/2 banana, sliced

Put all ingredients except the banana and granola in a bowl. Stir well. Add banana and granola and serve.