Strawberry Lemon Muffins
Though these Strawberry Lemon Muffins are not the most nutritious muffins posted on my blog, these fluffy and fruity treats totally have a place in a balanced diet nonetheless (as all foods do!). Yes, you’ll be eating white flour and some sugar if you choose to enjoy these Strawberry Lemon Muffins (which I hope you do!), but you’ll also be getting plenty of vitamin C and antioxidants from the strawberries.
There are people that won’t eat fruit unless it’s baked into a dessert, and if that’s you, that’s okay! That’s why I create recipes like this one. No matter how you slice the cake (or Strawberry Lemon Muffins, in this case), eating white flour and white sugar doesn’t take away the fact that you also fueled yourself with good-for-you nutrients, such as those present in the strawberries.
Nutrition is not as black and white as many make it out to be. I often get questions from people who are curious if foods like pizza are “bad” or if foods such as sushi are “good.” Similarly, as a future dietitian, people often assume that I eat “healthy” all of the time and that I only eat “good” foods, which is most definitely not the case.
Let’s break this all down for a second:
The truth is that eating “healthy” is more about the context of your diet as a whole rather than about the specific foods that you choose to eat. So, before labeling pizza as “bad” or sushi as “good,” consider what your context looks like. Are you balancing out your pizza with some salad? How often are you eating pizza? Do you feel guilty about eating pizza? Are you choosing to eat sushi instead of what you really want to be eating because it’s “healthier?” Are you depriving yourself while hiding under the guise of health?
Your relationship with food and your feelings around eating matter as much as the foods that you choose to eat when it comes to determining whether or not you have a truly healthy diet. Being healthy isn’t only about the foods that you fuel your body with; it’s about much much more. Consider how the foods you eat make you feel – both physiologically and psychologically – to find the right balance of “healthy” that works for you!
My Recommendations
If you approach eating through the lens of “what can I include to make this more nutritious?” rather than through an elimination mindset, you will feel less restricted and will be much more likely to meet and sustain to your nutrition-related goals.
With that in mind, if these Strawberry Lemon Muffins are what get you to enjoy strawberries, go for it! Even if you don’t need muffins to get yourself to enjoy strawberries, this recipe is still a fun and unique one. Enjoy – and leave the guilt out of the recipe!
Strawberry Lemon Muffins
Ingredients
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1/3 cup sugar
- 2 teaspoons baking powder
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- 1 cup milk
- 2 eggs
- 1/2 cup vegetable oil
- Juice from half a lemon
- 2 to 3 tablespoons stawberry jam (optional)
- 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 ¼ cup strawberries, finely chopped (fresh or frozen)
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350 F. Line a 12-muffin tray with parchment paper or spray with cooking spray.
- In a medium mixing bowl, combine the flour, sugar, baking powder and salt.
- Next, add in the milk, eggs, oil, lemon juice, optional strawberry jam and vanilla. Mix until just combined. Fold in stawberries.
- Use two tablespoons or a ladle to transfer batter to muffin tins. Bake for 30 to 40 minutes. Note that cooking time may vary depending on if strawberries are fresh or frozen. Muffins will be more golden in color and slightly cracked and crispy on top when ready.
Notes
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