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Very Berry Munchkin Muffins

Although I have learned to worry less about what the girls eat and don't eat - particularly on weekends when birthday parties, playdates and outings can lead to too many treats and too little nutrition - I still try and sneak in good stuff to their food when I can.

Today we have some friends coming with their kids for a playdate and I wanted to make sure I had some healthy snacks to serve. Along with kale chips and fresh fruit, I am going to put these out.

Originally, I worried that these might be "too healthy" tasting, but when I offered them to the girls to taste test for breakfast yesterday, Big A gobbled down 3 and Little A gobbled down 2. Success!

1 cup sweet potato puree (or canned pumpkin)
1 banana, mashed
2 eggs or 4 egg whites
1/4 cup canola oil
2 tsp vanilla extract
1-1/4 cups milk (or water)
1/4 cup stevia* (or sugar)

1.5 cups whole wheat flour
1/2 cup natural bran
2 tbls ground flax seeds
2 tbls chia seeds
2 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp salt

1 cup fresh or frozen blueberries

Whisk together wet ingredients in a large bowl. Mix dry ingredients in a medium bowl and then dump into wet ingredients, along with blueberries. Stir just until combined. Fill mini muffin cups full with batter and bake at 350 for about 25 minutes, or until toothpick comes out clean. Cool on wire rack. Makes about 36 mini muffins.

*I started using stevia as a sugar substitute about 12 years ago, before most people had ever heard of it. It can be tricky to use because some stevia products have a rather bitter taste, but I have heard the some of the newer products on the market are better so I thought I would give it a try. I was a bit nervous about how it would affect the taste, but the fact that Adam and girls are devouring these muffins suggests that they don't mind one bit. Voila, a sugar-free muffin that's tasty and full of nutrition! Just note that the powdered brand I bought measures 1-to-1 with sugar, not all of them do. The liquid kind is also generally more potent. Taste your stevia beforehand if you are not sure!!

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