Whole Wheat Blueberry Banana Muffins

In my group at work we have a little birthday club in place.  Each person is in charge of bringing in treats for someone’s birthday once during the year.  Last week I had Tom’s birthday to plan, and since we had already had three birthday cakes planned for the month of February alone, I decided to change things up a bit and go with a birthday breakfast instead.  “Better” sugar options, you know?  I ended up baking some whole wheat blueberry banana muffins that I adapted from a recipe that I bookmarked on How Sweet Eats.

Ingredients

• 2 cups whole wheat flour
• 1 egg
• 1/3 cup agave
• 1/2 cup unsweetened applesauce
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 4 ripe mashed bananas
• 3/4 cup blueberries

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
2. Place muffin cups in muffin tins.
3. Mix egg, agave, and unsweetened applesauce together.
4. Add bananas and vanilla.
5. Add flour, baking soda, and salt – then stir until completely smooth.
6. Fold in blueberries.
7. Spoon the batter into the muffin tins.
8. Bake for 20-25 minutes or until a toothpick poked into the center comes out clean.

These were tasty and a big hit in the office!  I got lots of compliments, so unless everyone was lying to me, then you should bake these muffins too.

I also decided to bring in a fruit salad, for good healthy measure – sliced up pineapple, strawberries, and more blueberries.

The fruit salad lasted a few days, and I enjoyed as a late afternoon snack throughout the week.  Yum.  I’m happy I brought in breakfast instead of another cake!

Do you have any kind of birthday club in your office?  Have you ever thought to celebrate with something besides a cake?  How do you avoid “too many sweets” in the workplace?

I posted this question on my F&F Facebook page last week, and got some great answers.  Some tips included chugging water to stay full, brushing your teeth, chewing gum, having healthy snacks on hand to eat instead, and just saying no.

Do you have any other advice?

P.S.  Tonight my class at the Oak Square Y is FREE to non-members as part of Boston Moves for Health!  Come on by at 7:30pm to sweat!