Carrot Zucchini Muffins

April 18, 2014

These carrot zucchini muffins are full of fibre and whole-grains that will keep you full all morning! The perfect whole food breakfast.

There is a lot of debate over the issue of eating breakfast. The anti-breakfast side argues that skipping breakfast decreases eating throughout the day and lowers insulin levels.

The other side of the argument (the one were are more familiar with) claims that eating breakfast boosts brain power, prevents less snacking during the day, provides you with the nutrition you need after fasting all night, and reduces risk of heart disease and kick-starts your metabolism.

One of my favourite things to have for breakfast is a healthy, hearty, muffin, slathered in almond butter—like these carrot zucchini muffins. To me it represents the ultimate breakfast: warm, seedy, fruity, and filling without being heavy.

Recently, I have been enjoying these tasty spring inspired muffins. Studded with fruit, veggies, seeds, and natural sweetener, these carrot zucchini muffins make a wonderful breakfast. Served with some jam or nut butter and fresh fruit, they make a complete breakfast, most anyone would enjoy.

Ingredients

chia seeds
olive oil
apple sauce
zucchini
carrot
banana
maple syrup
sea salt
whole spelt flour
baking powder
baking soda
cinnamon
ground ginger
ground nutmeg
pumpkin seeds
chopped dates or raisins

The Breakfast Debate

Here are some of the claims made about breakfast, but like always, you should decide what works best for you.

Pro-Breakfast:

You burn more calories. Eating regularly stimulates your metabolism and helps you burn calories—by eating less your body thinks it's starving, and begins to shut down.
You will be less likely to have extra weight. Skipping breakfast is linked to gaining extra weight. By skipping meals, you get extra hungry and will over eat at the next meal.
Gives you energy. You will have more energy by eating breakfast. Food is fuel and you can't run a machine on empty.
Better nutrition. Eating breakfast helps you meet nutritional needs, by skipping it you could have a deficit.
Less binging. You will binge less by eating regularly and not getting overly hungry.
More concentration. Helps you concentrate because you aren't preoccupied by being hungry.
Better mood. You will be in a better mood and less irritable if you aren't 'hangry'.

Anti-Breakfast:

Argues that breakfast is important for those who are malnourished, but for those who aren't, it's just another meal, no better than any other.
That skipping it does not cause one to eat more. Some people who skip breakfast will eat more, but others will not.
That skipping it causes greater weight loss. By eating first thing, you will want more food throughout the day.
That breakfast doesn't increase your metabolism, only exercise does.

Method

To make the carrot zucchini muffins combine the wet ingredients in one bowl, and the dry ingredients in another, being sure to mix each well.

Add the wet ingredients to the dry ingredients and stir just until combined.

Stir in the dried fruit and seeds, being sure not to over mix.

Scoop batter into 8 lined muffin cups and bake in a pre-heated 190° C (375° F) oven for 20-25 minutes or until the tops of the muffins spring back when lightly touched.

Let sit for a few minutes prior to serving.

Substitutions

Other Muffin Recipes

Yield: 8 muffins