Pumpkin Muffins are a Healthy Snack!

Sweet Snacks Can Be Healthy Snacks!
When I get the chance, I really like to have a cup of hot tea and a healthy sweet in the mid-afternoon. One day late last week, I realized that there was nothing in the kitchen to satisfy my ‘healthy sweet tooth’ and this amazing Pumpkin Muffin Recipe came to mind. Luckily, it was a day that I had about 30 minutes to spare and so I made the recipe and then enjoyed one muffin with my afternoon tea. Ah-h-h.

Pleasing Pumpkin Muffin Recipe!

Makes 12 regular or about 24 mini muffins

1 can, 15-16 oz                    Pumpkin, solid pack, canned

½ cup                                     Sugar

2                                              Eggs, large

2 Tbsp                                    Unsweetened applesauce

2 Tbsp                                    Canola or light-flavored olive oil

½ cup                                     Water

¾ cup                                     White flour

¾ cup                                     Whole wheat flour

½ tsp                                      Baking soda

¾ tsp                                      Baking powder

¼ tsp                                       Salt

1 tsp                                       Pumpkin pie spice or ½ tsp each, cinnamon and nutmeg

1 cup                                      Raisins

1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees.
2. Get out a large bowl and add the wet ingredients: pumpkin, sugar, eggs, applesauce, oil and water.
3. With an electric mixer or hand whisk, mix up everything for 1-2 minutes.
4. In a different bowl, add the dry ingredients: white flour, whole wheat flour, baking soda, baking powder, salt, spice and raisins. Stir up with a spoon until well mixed.
5. Add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients slowly. Mix with an electric mixer or a big, wooden spoon until everything is moist. Do not over mix.
6. Lightly spray the muffin pan(s) with vegetable oil cooking spray.
7. Using a soup spoon, fill the muffin pans about halfway full.
8. Place into the oven and bake for 20 minutes.

Nutrition per serving (one regular muffin): 170 calories; 3.5 gm fat; 0.5 gm saturated fat; 0 trans fat; 35 mg cholesterol; 140 mg sodium; 33 gm carbohydrates; 3 gm fiber; 4 gm protein; 110% DV vitamin A; 4% DV vitamin C; 4% DV calcium; 8% DV iron

Keep Healthy Snacks On-Hand!

There is one way to encourage healthy snacking in your kitchen, on the soccer field and at the park…by keeping only healthy snacks on-hand. Starting with your next grocery shopping trip, be sure to follow this rule of good nutrition as you stock up on fresh fruit, easy-to-snack-on veggies, nuts, yogurt, whole grain cereal and low fat milk. For a sweet snack treat, also add the ingredients for my Pleasing Pumpkin Muffins to your list and join me on Facebook!

Will you add extra nutrition such as chopped dates, craisins or pecans to your pumpkin muffins?