This time of year with the shift in weather, I find myself craving more fruit than during the winter months. Let’s face it— when it is warm out, there is nothing better than a fresh piece of fruit! I always aim to eat fruits that are in season to get the freshest available. One of my favorite fruits is the kiwifruit, also known as the Chinese gooseberry.
As the spring season is coming to an end, so is kiwi season. That means it’s time to pick some up and enjoy them before they are gone! Whether you eat them raw, add them to your yogurt or inside your baked goods, you can’t go wrong with the taste and health benefits of the kiwifruit. Kiwifruit is loaded with more potassium than a banana, more vitamin C than an orange, and tons of calcium, iron, magnesium and copper, making it the most nutrient dense of all major fruits!
So before kiwi season is over, pick some up and give my Banana Kiwi Muffins a try! With fewer than 100 calories per muffin, you can enjoy two delicious muffins at a time. These are great as a grab-and-go breakfast option or an excellent pre- or post-workout snack. Give them a try and let me know what you think!
Fun Fact: Did you know the gooseberry was renamed the “kiwifruit” because of its resemblance to New Zealand’s national bird that looks just like a fuzzy brown kiwifruit?
Banana Kiwi Muffins
Ingredients
1/2 cup Truvia
1/2 cup oatmeal
1/2 cup almond meal
4 scoops (1 cup) banana protein powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 tablespoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
3/4 cup non fat unsweetened Greek Yogurt
6 tablespoons almond milk
3 tablespoons unsweetened applesauce
1 egg
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
2 large ripe bananas, mashed
3 ripe kiwi, chopped into small cubes
Directions
Preheat oven to 375 degrees.
1. Combine the first 8 dry ingredients in a large mixing bowl and set aside.
2. Mix yogurt, almond milk, applesauce, egg, vanilla and mashed bananas together in a smaller bowl. Use a hand mixer to mix until all combined.
3. Add WET mixture to the DRY mixture and continue mixing until all ingredients are combined. Don’t over mix; it is okay to have some lumps.
4. Gently fold in chopped kiwi.
5. Line muffin tin with cupcake liners and spray with nonstick cooking spray. Bake in a pre-heated oven at 375°F for 25-30 minutes.
6. Cool in pan for 10 minutes, then remove and cool thoroughly on wire rack.
Makes 16 muffins. Enjoy!
Nutritional Information
Serving Size: 1 muffin
Calories: 85
Fat: 2.5 grams
Saturated Fat: <1 gram
Carbohydrates: 9.5 grams
Protein: 7.5 grams
Fiber: 1.5 grams
Sugar: 4 grams
Resource
http://www.kiwifruit.org/about/history.aspx