Easy and Healthy No Flour/Sugar Blueberry Banana Oatmeal Muffins

Hi Friends!

At my house I always have bananas. :-) Not that I personally eat them a lot, but bananas are cheap and healthy so I feel like if I have them on my counter at all times the chances that my children will grab a banana (over chips) are elevated - hee,hee.

This recipe gets 2 thumbs up from the dorky carrot and corn "people" i.e. my son and me ;-)

Unfortunately what usually happens to my nice display of counter bananas is quite a few of them turn black - well, maybe just a very spotted brown. :-)

I have 2, gallon size bags in my freezer full of peeled very ripe bananas.  I use them in banana shakes for my kids ALL the time (just bananas, milk, and plain Greek yogurt.....sometimes I add cottage cheese too, they have NO idea as it is so well blended)  

When I found this recipe on Pinterest I had to give it a shot.  I am all about just dumping ingredients in a bowl and baking it up (sorry to disappoint anyone who thought I might have been a gourmet baker- hee,hee) But what I have found is you can't mess these up - really!

EASY Blueberry Banana Oatmeal Muffins

(no sugar, dairy or flour!)

3 very ripe bananas

1 cup vanilla almond milk (I used unsweetened flax milk)

2 eggs (I used 6 tbsp egg whites)

2 cups oats (I used the quick ones)

1 Tbsp baking powder

1 tsp vanilla extract

dash of salt and cinnamon

 (if you want it a bit sweeter add a dash or few drops of stevia)

Add blueberries (or any fruit!) 

*protein powder optional

ok, this actually would work with chocolate chips too (shhhhhhh)

Dump ingredients in the mixer and slowly mix until bananas are all mushed throughout batter (I am so good with this professional baking terminology - ha!)

Let me re-try that - "Mix until bananas are well integrated throughout your delicate oatmeal batter." ;-)

Bake 350° for 35 min or till inserted toothpick comes out clean

* For those of you who would like to add a bit more PROTEIN to these muffins, I experimented with adding a scoop (or two) of protein powder and it didn't change the taste at all.  

Edit:  For those that are interested, here are the macronutrients - I added 2 scoops of plain whey protein (200 calories) into the recipe.  These are one of my FAVORITE easy snacks!

1 muffin - makes 18

Protein: 4.4   Carbs: 13.3    Fat: 1    Fiber: .8    Calories: 80.2

They turned out REALLY good! And just so you guys know, I don't post all the recipes I try, only the ones that were "hits" :-)

Enjoy!!!

Puddings Made With Chia Seeds - Double Fudge Chocolate and Blueberry

I have been on the lookout for some really great higher protein snacks that will keep me full,  give me energy and taste amazing - I think I found it :-)

CHOCOLATE CHIA PUDDING!

I have continued to focus on my workouts and eating "clean" this summer.  Come September, I think I'll be at my health goal - pretty exciting!  

This has been one of my favorite "go to" desert snacks between my meals.  On the plan I'm following, they want you to eat every THREE hours!  It's great cause this gal loves to eat :-)

To make a single serving:

20g chia seeds (about 2 TBSP)

2/3 cup almond milk/regular milk or water

20g whey protein powder (usually it's about 1 full scoop)

1 tbsp raw organic cocoa

1/4 tsp vanilla

stevia (or other sweetener to taste)

Directions:

1. In blender, pour warm milk ( or water) over chia seeds and let stand for 30 -60 min (you can refrigerate if you want)

2. Add all other ingredients and mix.

3. Scoop into bowl to serve.

5. Top with your choice of coconut, chopped nuts , fruit

Nutrients (for single serving)

using almond milk:  Calories 220  Protein 21.37  Carb 11.53  Fat 9.87

using water instead of milk:  Calories 168  Protein 20.57  Carb 3.83  Fat 7.87

Look at that great tapioca like texture!!!!  YUM!

I have also made a DELICIOUS blueberry version of this - Blueberry Chia Pudding.  For those that love the tapioca or rice pudding texture - you're in for a treat with these!  There are lots of posts about the benefits of chia seeds - I always like reading them.

And just so you are reminded, here are some Chia Seed facts:

Six times more protein than kidney beans, 

Twice the amount of dietary fiber as bran flakes, 

Three times the amount of iron in spinach, 

Twice the amount of potassium in bananas, 

Six times the amount of calcium in milk 

(Bourne, 2002)

If you want to order some of the listed items above, use my coupon code ESE794 for $10.00 off your first www.iherb.com order!  

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