Parenting a toddler comes with a special set of challenges, one of which is trying to get them to eat things outside of their favorite food groups. Similar to Will Ferrell’s Elf character, most toddler consider the main food groups to be candy, candy corns, cake, cupcakes, cereal, milk, and juice. We fight toddler meal battles on a daily basis around here, and utilize a variety of techniques to get our growing boy the nutrients he needs without losing our sanity. I make sneaky veggie smoothies every week, and have started baking sneaky veggie muffins quite often. I’ve tried a few veggie muffin recipes, and have come up with the one I’m sharing today through trial and error. This recipe maximizes the good stuff without compromising on taste. We all love them, and I hope you will as well.
Sneaky Veggie Double Chocolate Whole Wheat Muffins
Ingredients:
3 cups whole wheat flour
1 cup brown sugar
1 cup applesauce
1/3 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
3 eggs or substitute 3 tbsp flax seed mixed with water
2 cups grated zucchini
1 cup grated carrot
1 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp baking powder
1 tsp salt
1 tsp cinnamon
1/2 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips (optional)
Directions:
Preheat your oven to 350 and grease your muffin tin or line it with paper liners.
Beat the eggs or flax seed mix. Add the rest of the wet ingredients and mix well. I use a stand mixer.
Add the dry ingredients slowly, mixing and scraping the sides as you go.
After the other ingredients are well mixed, add the chocolate chips if desired.
Using a 1/4 cup measuring cup, scoop the batter in to your muffin tin, filling each spot 2/3 of the way full.
Bake at 350 for 15-18 minutes.
Enjoy. These bad boys are not just for picky toddlers. They are popular with all members of Casa de Eby.
I wish the Bear would eat his vegetables, and I continue to offer them at lunch and dinner every day. Someday he will choose to eat them. For now, I’m getting his nutritional needs met in the form of baked goods.
How do you get your kids to eat vegetables?