I am on a desperate hunt for healthy foods that my 1 year old will eat. When he was first experimenting with solids he would try some things and eat a few things consistently, but as he’s getting a little older he keeps reducing the amount of things that he will eat. He’s pretty hardcore about it all too, there isn’t a vegetable he will eat, not peas, not sweet potatoes… nothing. He gets by on bread, cheese, cheeseburger pie and certain fruits… oh and popcorn (with nothing on it). He does love cake and sweets in general (takes after his mother).

This all is just taking me by such surprise because his big brother is and, for the most part, always has been a very eager and healthy eater. I never had to try this hard with him. But little Zeke is giving me a run for my money. So if it’s desserts he wants, it’s “desserts” (mommy-style) that he’ll get. I gave these Banana Avocado Apple Muffins from My Fussy Eater a try. I feel silly admitting to you that he rejected them, because this is supposed to be a post of successful foods! Haha, oh well, just because it didn’t work for us doesn’t mean it won’t work for you, try them out! I’m going to keep offering them to him, because the rest of the family thinks they’re a great little treat! And they say to keep offering everything to your picky eater.

3/25/18 Update: Zeke now loves these muffins! I’ve been making them one or two times a week for a little while now because he decided to give them a chance and now he asks for a “mut-min” at most meals! It just goes to show… keep on offering them foods! He hasn’t been receptive to other foods, so maybe I’ll try to find another healthy muffin recipe just to mix it up.

If there’s a recipe that you love making for your own picky eater please share with us in the comments below! Also, let us know how this one works out for you!

BANANA, AVOCADO, APPLE MUFFINS

makes: 10-12 full size muffins

Ingredients:

• 1 cup all purpose flour
• 1 cup rolled oats
• 1 tsp. baking powder
• 1/4 tsp. baking soda
• 1 medium banana
• 1 avocado
• 1 cup unsweetened applesauce
• 1 egg
• 1/4 cup milk

Instructions:

1. Preheat the oven to 350°F and grease your muffin tray.
2. Add the flour, oats, baking powder and baking soda to a large bowl and mix with a spoon.
3. In another bowl mash the banana and avocado together and then mix in the apple sauce. Add the egg and milk and mix well.
4. Add the wet ingredients to the dry ingredients and mix just enough to combine all ingredients.
5. Divide the mixture between the paper liners and bake in the oven for 20-22 minutes for full size muffins; I made mine mini and they take 10-14 minutes to bake.

» These can be stored in the fridge for up to 5 days or you can freeze a bunch of them for later! Just let them sit at room temperature for a few hours to thaw.

» I’ve made these quite a few times now and every time they’re a little different but they turn out delicious every time! I’m not one to be very experimental in the kitchen, but I’ve altered this recipe based on what we have in the house. Here are some things I’ve done:

• Oats: I’ve used a combination of regular oats, quick oats and/or steel cut oats. If you do steel cut oats I suggest replacing only about 1/3 cup of the regular oats, not the whole cup. Steel Cut oats probably won’t absorb enough liquid and your muffins may be reduced to mush.
• Flour: I’ve replace about 1/3 of the flour measurement with Flax Meal. I’ve also used Oat flour to replace the regular flour 100% (this is an easy way to make these gluten free!). You can also replace or mix regular flour with whole wheat flour.
• Milk: I usually use Almond Milk (a great way to make these dairy-free). I’m confident any milk/replacement will turn out great.
• Fruit: One time I only had a tiny banana, which didn’t seem like enough, but I did have a pear that had an entire rotten half. I cut off the rotten part and added in the good half of the pear with the banana… tasted just fine!
• Sugar: We all know to fear too much sugar, right? But we also kind of fear the lack of enjoyment with no sugar. I’ve added 1/4 cup of Coconut sugar to help entice my picky eater into eating the muffins and I’m slowly adding less and less. Coconut sugar is not a miracle food that can “healthily” replace sugar– it’s manufacturing process is more natural (less refined) and it contains traces of nutrients (table sugar has no nutrients). So it’s slightly better than table sugar, but certainly not as good as no sugar.