Healthy Bites with TGMC | Leafy Greens Chocolate Spinach Muffins

Green leafy vegetables are nutritional superstars packed with nutrients such as vitamin A, vitamin C, antioxidants, fiber, folate, vitamin K, magnesium, calcium, iron and potassium. These nutrients perform many important functions in the body including promoting healthy vision, supporting our immune system, acting as antioxidants that may help prevent certain cancers, and regulating our blood pressure, blood sugar, and blood cholesterol.

Unfortunately, not everyone enjoys a salad. Be creative and try to incorporate leafy greens in meals as much as possible. Add them to soups, stews, and casseroles or cook the greens down and add a pinch of sugar to help reduce the bitterness. Many greens, such as spinach or kale have very little taste and can be easily incorporated into smoothies. Children ages 4 to 8 should get 1 cup of leafy greens per week and 1 ½ to 2 cups for teens and adults.

INGREDIENTS:

• 3/4 cup unsweetened applesauce
• 3/4 cup light sour cream
• 3 oz unsweetened chocolate, melted
• 1 egg white
• 1 tsp vanilla extract
• 1 cup tightly packed baby spinach
• 1 cup flour
• 1/2 cup sugar
• 1 tsp baking power
• 1 tsp baking soda
• 1/2 tsp salt
• 2 tbsp semi-sweet chocolate chips

DIRECTIONS:

STEP 1
Preheat your oven to 350 degrees F. Spray a 12 cup muffin tin with
cooking spray.
STEP 2
Blend applesauce, sour cream, melted chocolate, egg white, vanilla and spinach in a blender until smooth.
STEP 3
Combine the dry ingredients in a medium bowl. Add the liquid mixture to the dry mixture until moistened.
STEP 4
Spoon into 12 muffin pan cups.Sprinkle with chocolate chips.
STEP 5
Bake 18-20 minutes or until toothpick inserted comes out clean. Cool completely.
STEP 6
Serve and enjoy!

Serving size: 1 whole muffin (Serves 12)

For more information contact our Healthy Lifestyles Center at 985-850-6002 or visit tgmc.com

BY MICHELLE BRICENO, REGISTERED DIETICIAN