More about the lunch box

Ashlyn is a good eater. Always has been. She's a typical kid though and has things she likes and doesn't, but for the most part likes what I fix and will always try something new. But, this doesn't really apply to breakfast and lunch. She likes what she likes and wants to eat from the same rotation. Since she started eating from a lunch box she is even more particular. She would prefer to eat a PB&J sandwich every day. (Which I refuse to do because after eating PB&J for 6 weeks straight she's gonna hate them then I'll have to mark it off my rotation list) Sigh...

One thing both of my girls like are muffins. They love mini muffins for snacks. They're just fun to eat. So I have been trying healthy muffin recipes and sending mini muffins in her lunch. They freeze great and thaw in time for lunch. I make them with white wheat flour and replace the oil with apple sauce. I pack them with a fruit and also some yogurt, cheese or apples and chocolate peanut butter. I want to make sure she gets protein for staying power.

These Banana Oat Muffins were a hit. I think next time I will pulse the oatmeal in my food processor first. The girls thought they were great but I thought they were a bit chunky.

I made these PB&J muffins in a regular sized muffin tin. I thought it would be easier. They were really good. I always use all natural peanut butter but have read natural peanut butter doesn't do so well in baked goods, so I used Jiff just to make sure. I also use all natural jelly. It's amazing the taste difference in jelly that doesn't have high fructose corn syrup in it. It actually tastes like fruit and not just an overly sweet flavored spread.

I baked these Cinnamon Apple Cider Muffins last week. I used apple juice instead of cider since that's what I had. They were good but weren't a huge hit. The girls didn't like the little bits of apple in them. I'll make them again but next time I'll cut the apples very small. :)

I'm anxious to try these Toddler Muffins. I'll use apple sauce instead of butter, oatmeal instead of oat bran, and cinnamon instead of pumpkin pie spice.

I'm not sure if the girls will love these Sweet potato and oatmeal muffins. I have it saved and may try them one day.

I do think these will be a hit though, Peanut butter chocolate chip muffins. Again I'll sub out the all purpose flour and butter for white wheat flour and apple sauce. I'll also use dark chocolate chips.

I have several savory egg muffin recipes saved that I also want to try. I'm not sure if they'll be a hit with Ashlyn but they will be great for Phillip. He likes to take his breakfast with him on his way to work.   

I also had a brilliant idea the other day. I'm sure it's not a new trick but it's new to me! We usually have one or two mushy bananas at the end of the week that are only good for baking. I have put them in the freezer in the skins and also peeled them then placed the whole banana in a freezer bag. Well, it dawned on me that I should peel the banana, put it in a freezer bag then just go ahead and squish it in the bag with my hands. Duh! I then spread the banana mush flat in the bag so it will freeze flat and then thaw quickly when I need it. I'm sure it would be very easy to add another banana to the bag so you can have a couple bananas in one bag. Just write how many bananas you have mushed up in there.