Ever wondered what the ‘I quit sugar’ fuss was all about? In theory, it sounds wonderful and it’s not just because we know we need to reduce our children’s intake of sugars. Is cold turkey really the answer to reducing the risk of obesity and related disease in our children?
With this no added sugar recipe you don’t need to overthink it.
What probably worries you is if you limit treat foods now, your kids may well indulge without limits in the future. When it comes to sugar and obesity, there’s no right formula. You don’t need to quit sugar, but no added sugar for the first year of life is sensible and recommended.
It’s complex, it’s about role-playing, leading by example, teaching them from their early years about healthy eating habits and then there are all those external factors that you have absolutely no control over.
Like that little kid who keeps feeding your kid chocolate bars and sweets and just stuff that kids just love diving into when you are not around. Would they choose a no added sugar muffin if you weren’t around?
As parents, we play a role in the complex world of obesity.
Because you see, as one of the most influential people in our children’s lives, let’s teach them about healthy eating patterns.
For example, encourage reaching for that gorgeous colourful fruit laden bowl instead of the lollies after school. And join them as they bite into that juicy pear.
Celebrate the great taste that fruit has to offer. Yes, fruit has sugar but it’s natural sugar packed with fibre, vitamins and minerals that their little bodies need.
See: The Real Truth About Carbs and learn about Smart Carbs.
I often don’t bother with ‘trendy eating’ but this inspired creation was whipped up out of curiosity.
The texture of these no added sugar muffins without the incriminated sugar was a little bit on the ‘heavy’ side but the addition of bananas and fruit puree worked, giving it a lightness in flavour that quickly gave way to the rather grown-up delight of dark chocolate.
INGREDIENTS
125g milk free margarine
250g apple or pear puree
2 higher welfare eggs
1 teaspoon good quality vanilla extract
250g plain flour or gluten free flour
2 teaspoons baking powder
2 ripe bananas, mashed with a fork
80g (approx) good quality dark chocolate (70% cocoa solids) broken into 2 squares per piece
DIRECTIONS
Preheat the oven to 160ºC fan / 180ºC/350ºF/gas mark 4 and line a 12 hole muffin tray with cupcake cases.
In a large mixing bowl cream, the margarine then add the apple or pear puree. Add the eggs, vanilla extract and beat again for a few minutes. Add the flour and baking powder and beat again until combined. Now add the mashed bananas and mix well.
Spoon the mixture into the cupcake cases (approximately 2 tablespoons per muffin hole) or until all of the mixture has been used. Ask your toddler to top each cupcake with the squares of dark chocolate.
Bake in the oven for 25 minutes or until a skewer comes out clean. Allow cooling completely before serving.
This recipe is also milk free! Enjoy!
Alternatively, replace half the fruit puree with honey for a reduced added sugar treat.
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