Food Explorers Club - Whole Grain Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Muffin

Whole Grain Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Muffin

Halloween is all about pumpkin, and I felt it was the best time to introduce kids to Pumpkin Muffins. I found out that many kids enjoyed pumpkin pie but had never tasted pumpkin muffins. At the end of the class, they enjoyed their creations and finished their muffins. Culinary Skills – Baking is a fun and relaxing activity for many kids and adults. As part of this class, Kids practiced their measuring skills ensuring each ingredient was as per the recipe requirement. Kids learned skills of whisking eggs with a whisk. Later, they mixed both dry and wet ingredients while whisking the eggs to form the muffin batter. Nutrition Education- Kids learned about the main ingredient- Pumpkin, and using whole grain flour versus all-purpose flour for baking. Pumpkin is a nutrient dense food, packed with vitamin and minerals. It is the best source of beta-carotene which is a powerful antioxidant. Pumpkin muffin’s/cupcakes/bread are healthier desserts due to the natural sweetness of pumpkin. However, when using canned pumpkin for baking, carefully read ingredients for added sugar. Using whole grain flour for baking is more beneficial than all-purpose flour due to its rich fiber content. Working as a Team- “Balance,” is key to healthy eating. It is very important for kids to develop a healthy relationship with food. We should teach kids that there is No Bad food or Unhealthy food. Foods rich in added sugar and fats often referred as “Sometimes foods” or "Treats, " should be consumed in lesser quantity. Educating our kids that it is important to maintain a balance of eating real foods (Also referred as “Always foods”) Vs. Candies, Desserts and fried foods (Referred as “Sometimes food”) are very important. I encourage all my kids to enjoy all kinds of food and the key is understanding the balance between Always Foods Vs Sometimes Foods.