Great tasting--Good for You Muffins

Updated on November 17, 2010
K.S. asks from Columbus, OH
18 answers

My son is in 1st grade & barely eats anything for lunch. As the year progresses, I'm finding out why. They are given 45 minutes to eat & have recess. After the 1st 15 minutes, they can go to recess. So, he is eating only what he can eat in 15 minutes. I've also learned from his teacher & his Dad, that he eats very slow & is somewhat meticulous about his food. For awhile, I was sending a sandwich, pudding, a fruit, & milk--now, I'm only sending a sandwich & mini muffins. The only thing he eats is the muffins. I've sent Spaghetti-O's before & he might eat as much as half, but that's even rare.

So, my question-does anyone have a great recipe that's packed with goodness that I can make for him? I'm thinking that if I can make some more nutritious muffins then that would be so much better than just choc. chip muffins or pudding.

Added: The 1st response made me remember. He is not a wrap eater & is pretty picky. The school is nut-free, so if I send a sandwich, it's just jelly. He won't eat ham & cheese, etc. Again, thinking I should be able to make something that's more nutritous than that. And, I don't see why something can't taste great & be good for you.

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K.O.

answers from Indianapolis on

You can use a product call "Any Whey" to add protein to anything that you make. It can also be used in any receipe to add protein. There is no nasty after taste. I have mixed it in with jelly/jam and added a piece of cheese for a different type of jelly sandwich. The protein will give it a little umpf. Yes, it does make stuff a little on the cloudy side, but it does not detract from the taste any. Go to a nutrition shop and look for "Any Whey". Whatever you do, don't let them talk you into something else. Nothing else works as good at this product in any receipe that I have used it in & I have used it even as a substitute for eggs as my Mom is allergic to eggs. Just sub a serving cup [that's in the container] plus about 1/4 cup water/milk for each egg used. Try it!

1 mom found this helpful
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A.R.

answers from Dallas on

Buy the boxed chocolate muffin mix. Shred a medium size zucchini and add it to the mix before you make it. Bake them in mini-muffin tins. I promise he won't even notice the zucchini, my daughter is a chocoholic and loves these - I made them 3 times before I told her there was zucchini in them and she couldn't tell, still loves them even though she knows they are packed full of zucchini.

Another idea is ham & cheese corn muffins. You can start with boxed corn muffin mix and add diced ham and shredded cheese to it. Or if he doesn't like ham add crumbled bacon.

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R.P.

answers from Chicago on

Will he eat pancakes? It might be kind of fun for him to eat "breakfast" for lunch.

allrecipes.com has a great recipe for pumpkin pancakes, applesauce pancakes, and oatmeal pancakes. All can be made with 1/2 white, 1/2 wheat flour and are all pretty healthy. They can be made well in advance and put in the freezer. It takes about 40 seconds in the mic to heat them up so it's super easy to grab and go as well. My 2yo loves them all and doesn't even realize she is eating something healthy.

Hope this helps. :-)

1 mom found this helpful
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D.J.

answers from New York on

Hi I give my very picky son chocolate chip pancakes, I used very little choc. chips, the mini ones just sprinkle a bit here and there, I also add pureed carrots which he can't even taste in it and actually it makes it taste good bec. carrots are naturally sweet, I use the baby carrots puree, mix it with the pancake mix, pour it in the pan and then add the very little morsels of choc chips my son won't eat it without the few chips in it. Also, I add egg in the mix so my son gets the benefits from the vitamins in egg also and of course it has milk which is good also. Give it a try, my super picky son loves it.

1 mom found this helpful
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L.O.

answers from Cleveland on

Heavenlyhomemakers.com has a few muffin recipes that your son may be interested in: a sloppy joe muffin, a corn dog muffin (these are made with a corn muffin base) and a pancake/sausage muffin. You can get a little protein in him at least. These freeze well too. Good luck.

1 mom found this helpful
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M.B.

answers from Lafayette on

Search online for apple-raisin muffins, or banana muffins, or muffins made with wheat flour. I bet you'll find a lot! =)

1 mom found this helpful
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P.R.

answers from Cincinnati on

I didn't read all of the responses but, I really liked the ideas in the previous 3. I don't have a specific recipe, but I would recommend a pumpkin cranberry muffin, or a zucchini bread, or meatloaf muffins. Google "Pom muffins" and you will find some recipes for meatloaf, quinoa and steel cut oat muffins, which are all high-protein options, to give your son some energy for his afternoon.

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L.M.

answers from Cleveland on

You could try a homemade muffin recipe, and search for one also where you can sneak healthy stuff in. I think those recipes usually add applesauce and squash purees. I'd also try starting out with a white flour, but you can adjust to a whole wheat flour. And if he likes spaghetti-os, figure out a sauce to make or buy, and what noodles he likes, and slowly add stuff.

My daughter also likes cheese and crackers (whole wheat ritz are yummy). Yogurt....lowfat organic.

I also do whole wheat waffles on the weekend and freze them, adding blueberries and for the tough days choc chips

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J.R.

answers from Toledo on

I'm sort of off topic here, but wanted to add that research shows that kids who have recess BEFORE lunch eat more (more calories, more nutrients) of their offered lunches.

My first grader doesn't have time to eat all her food either, so I'm getting involved in our district's wellness committee to investigate that.

Allrecipes.com has a ton of great recipes.

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C.R.

answers from Dallas on

Here is a "base muffin" recipe. You can then add other items for taste, see ideas below:
2 cups flour
1 cup sugar
2 eggs
1 cup milk
1/2 cup oil (I used canola)
1 tsp. vanilla
1 tbsp. baking powder
1 1/2 tsp. baking soda
1/2 tsp. salt
Mix everything together until smooth, spoon into lined muffin tins. Bake at 350 for 20-23 minutes.

The beauty of this recipe is that before you spoon them into the muffin tins you add the goodies:

Shredded carrot & raisins (1 cup finely shredded carrots, raisins)
Zucchini & chocolate chip (1 cup finely shredded zucchini & 1 cup choc. chips)
Apple Cinnamon (finely chopped appled, cinnamon to taste)
Banana Nut (1 cup smashed banana, nuts of your choice)
Carrot Zucchini (1 cup each of shredded carrots & zucchini)

The flavor choices go on and on.

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L.M.

answers from Terre Haute on

I like the ideas of either adding banana, zucchini, carrot, pumpkin, apple. Anything like that to a muffin. You can change the all purpose flour to half and half or all whole wheat with very little difference. Or add oats to the mix. I think oats mostly just adds healthy filler and doesnt change the flavor much. Add raisins or mix it up with cranberries. I just recently turned my kids pumpkins into puree, and googled healthy pumpkin recipes, and found this one. So maybe you could google nutritious muffin recipes or healthy muffin recipes, etc. Worth a shot.

Addictive Pumpkin Muffins: 15 min prep 35 min cook time at 350 degrees yields about 36 muffins
1 1/2 cups raisins or cranberries
4 3/4 cup flour (whole wheat)
4 cups sugar
1 1/2 tsp salt
1 1/2 tsp baking soda
1 1/2 tsp baking powder
1 1/2 tsp nutmeg
1 1/2 tsp cinnamon
1 1/2 tsp cloves
6 eggs (protien :-) )
1 can pumpkin (2 cups puree)
1 can unsweetened applesauce
1 can walnuts (we omit)
grease 2 12 cup muffin pans or line
soak raisins for 10 minutes in hot water
combine dry ingredients in large bowl
mix pumpkin eggs and applesauce in separate bowl until smooth
add to dry mixture until smooth batter
Stir in raisins or cranberries (and nuts)
Bake 30 to 35 minutes.

These were so good. My kids loved them. I cannot wait to make more. I want them for something quick in the mornings for breakfast. Notice no oils no butters, 3 to 4 fruits, whole grains if you use whole wheat flour and throw some oats in. Eggs for protien. Downfall, lots of sugar, but as someone else suggested, maybe you could us splenda instead.

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K.W.

answers from Cleveland on

Quaker Oat Bran Hot Cereal has a great recipe on the box.

1 mom found this helpful

E.S.

answers from Dayton on

I don't mean to sound catty...but there is nothing healthy about nitrate filled lunch meat or flour tortilla's either...
I have a horribly picky child, I truely sympathize.

Here is a recipe I like:
Sweet Potato Meadow (drop) Muffins
1 1/3 cups all purpose flour (I've also made them w/ all whole wheat)
2/3 cup whole wheat flour
1 Tspoon baking powder
1 tspoon baking soda
1/2 tspoon salt
1/2 tspoon nutmeg (I also add cinnamon)
1/3 cup veg. shortening (I sub. oil, butter or applesauce for shortening)
1 1/4 cups buttermilk
3/4 cup sweet potatoes (fresh or canned) (or pumpkin!) (or shredded carrots!) :)
1/3 cup brown sugar
Oven 400. Grease (or use parchment) baking sheet.
Mix dry ingredients. Cut in shortening until it looks like course cornmeal.
Mix wet ingredients, add sugar until disolved.
Mix wet and dry until it forms a soft dough.
Drop 12 heaping spoonfuls onto baking sheet.
Bake 20-25m or until golden on top. Cool 15m on rack.
I usually make some cinnamon butter to spread on 'em. They're delish! HTH!

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S.S.

answers from Los Angeles on

OK, I tried to post the link but the web address is getting cut off when I post. Go to www.allrecipes.com and search for "Mimi's Giant Whole-Wheat Banana-Strawberry Muffins". these are yummy and pretty healthy given that they use whole wheat flour and has bananas and strawberries in there. plus you sub applesauce for most of the oil so low in calories and fat.

also look up recipes for zucchini bread, blueberry muffins, etc. you'll have to be sure to use whole wheat flour though and try to use applesauce instead of oil, etc. so you're making it as healthy as possible for him.

1 mom found this helpful

N.B.

answers from Minneapolis on

I don't have a specific recipe for you..am searching for many healthy sorts myself to lose weight and get my fruits and veggies in. But I would suggest looking for some with pumpkin, zucchini, carrot, banana, etc in them. Maybe some boosted with fiber and you can use Splenda instead of sugar (we do) for baking. You absolutely can not tell the difference, I think. We do alot of splenda use..in coffee and teas, etc. I suffer from severe migraines and have been told by my Doc not to ever use "pink or blue" packet sweetener..and real sugar is just too many calories for me (trying to drop weight).

If you can't ensure hes eating well at school, but seems to not be suffering any "ill" effects (falling asleep in school, behavior or negative grades, etc)..I would pack him full of good stuff before he leaves and make sure he gets a good snack when he gets home.

Also make him part of the lunch making process. Get him involved..he may be more likely to eat it? Ask him what he has time for, but give him choices so the options are healthy. A string cheese or marbled cheese stick with some whole grain crackers and some fruit he will actually eat is quick and easy and fulfills the nutritional balancing a child should have to fuel them in the middle of the day. And again...send him out the door well fortified and do the same at home at the end of the day.

I do home childcare and when I still took school agers..boy oh boy., they were starving when they got home at 4pm. Most ate lunch at 11:30 am, with no snack after that. I started serving a "technical supper" as per USDA food program standards since they were asking for more than the fruit and crackers I generally offered . Add a yogurt or cheese sticks (real cheese)..and another fruit and it was a "supper".

Good luck!

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C.N.

answers from Cleveland on

you mentioned that your son's school is nut-free. you can always make a sandwich with sunflower butter (just sunflower seeds, salt, and sugar) which is totally a safe option and has no nuts at all. plus it is really yummy and kid friendly.
as for muffins... when i bake i make super flour. here is how you use this in place of the standard amount of flour mentioned in the recipe. if the recipe calls for 1 cup of flour start by filling the measuring cup with 1 Tablespoon of oat bran, 1 tablespoon of ground flax seed, and 1 tablespoon of wheat germ then fill the rest of the measuring cup up with your flour.
this adds alot of fiber and protein but does not change the taste or texture. my kids and husband can't tell the difference.
good luck!

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R.G.

answers from Dallas on

I don't know how healthy these are but they are truly awesome. I just took some to my daughters MDO class for their snack and everyone loved them, even the teachers!

Pumpkin chocolate chip muffins
Beat together 4 eggs, 2 c. sugar, 16 oz. can pumpkin, and 1.5 cups oil. Combine 3 c. flour, 2 tsp. bkg soda, 2 tsp. bkg powder, 1 tsp. cinnamon, and 1 tsp. salt; add to pumpkin mixture and mix well. Stir in 12 oz. semisweet chocolate chips. Fill greased or paper lined muffin tins 3/4 full. Bake at 400 for 16-20 min. or til they test done. Cool in pan 10 min. before removing to wire rack to cool completely. Makes 24 regular muffins plus extra.

Or try www.weelicious.com ...tons of great, healthy wholesome recipes with kids in mind.

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J.G.

answers from San Antonio on

I think "Great tasting" and "Good for you Muffins" are an oxymoron.

What about a torilla with lunch meat all wrapped up with cheese ? Not as boring as a sandwich. If you don't send a muffin, will he eat the sandwich?

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