Healthy muffin recipes

Making healthy muffins

Whole wheat flour

One of the easiest ways to instantly turn muffins into something healthier is to substitute whole wheat flour for regular white flour. Whole wheat flour is easy to find in just about any grocery store and you can use it in any muffin recipe.

Agave syrup

Many muffins are filled with loads of sugar, in order to reduce the blood sugar increase that sugar creates, substitute agave syrup for white sugar. The glycemic index is much lower and will keep your blood sugar levels lower. Just remember that agave syrup is a lot sweeter than sugar so you'll only use about half of what you normally might use.

Fiber

Adding ingredients that have a lot of dietary fiber will instantly boost the health factor of your muffins. Oat bran, flaxseed, and fruits with a lot of fiber like dates, prunes, and bananas are great additions to your muffins and will add taste and nutrients.

Yogurt/applesauce

If your muffin recipe calls for a lot of oil, you can substitute plain yogurt or applesauce, which are lower in fat and calories. They also have the added benefit of calcium (yogurt) and fiber (applesauce). You should substitute about 1/3 of the oil for yogurt or applesauce and be sure to use canola or grapeseed oil which are higher in vitamin E.

Nuts and seeds

Nuts and seeds like walnuts, pecans, almonds, and flaxseed are terrific sources of protein and omega 3s. Simply mixing a handful of nuts or seeds into your muffin mix will add much needed nutrients to keep you full longer as well as great texture and crunch.

Up next: Healthy muffin recipes >>