Clean Eating Recipes – Black Bean Brownie Muffins

 

Introduction – Clean Eating Recipes

First of all, let me explain a little bit about clean eating.

It’s all about eating whole foods like vegetables, fruits and whole grains, as well as healthy proteins and fats. It also means cutting back on refined grains, pesticides, additives, preservatives, sweeteners, unhealthy fats and large amounts of sugar and salt.  Don’t get me wrong, we are not obsessive.  I believe that you need to be realistic and let kids be kids.  So, I do not deny them the nice things, we just limit them and try to adopt an 80% clean eating and 20% none clean eating approach (somethings, however, I will not compromise on, aspartame being one of them!)  Over the last few years, I’ve built up a great library of clean eating recipes.

By employing this way of eating, I believe that we are helping in the management of my sons behaviour and having a beneficial affect on the health of our family. Win Win!  The National Autistic Society have some great information on the subject of autism and diet.

Where possible we eat food that is organic.  I use suppliers such as Riverford Organic for fruit and vegetables, Planet Organic for food cupboard items and Graig Farm for meat.  I love these suppliers and I can thoroughly recommend them. Most of my recipe inspiration comes from Pinterest and, to be honest, I’d be lost without it!

I’ve already shared my whole wheat banana muffins which are a staple in this house.  They make a great snack and will also  make a great grab and go breakfast!  I hope that you enjoyed them?

Now to share my personal favourite on our clean eating journey!

Black Bean Brownie Muffins

Servings: 14

Ingredients

2 x 400 g cans of black beans (I use these)

20 g cacao powder (I like this one)

80 g oats

1/2 tsp salt

250 ml pure maple syrup

80 g melted coconut oil (this is my favourite one)

20 ml pure vanilla extract

1 tsp baking powder (I tend to use this one)

200 g dark chocolate chips

Method

Preheat your oven to 180 C

Line/prepare your muffin pan.  I line mine with silicone cases.

Combine all the ingredients, except the chocolate chips, in a food processor and blend until smooth.  Stir in the chocolate chips and then pour into the prepared muffin cases.  Cook the brownies in the centre of the preheated oven for 25 to 30 minutes.  They may well look slightly under done when you take them out but don’t worry.  Allow them to cool completely and then pop them in the fridge over night.  I quite often find that some will disappear while still gooey and warm and we can’t resist them.

Ramblings

During our autism journey and, more recently, the PDA diversion, I have spent extraordinary amounts of time researching.  Google and pinterest are my new best friends!  What I have found is that there is just not enough help available for parents with children that have any sort of challenges.

In my opinion, it is wrong that it is this difficult to get help but, it’s just the way that it is.  Therefore, I make no apologies for trying everything within my power to help my family.  Some of you will look at my ideas and efforts and laugh but, you know what?  That’s ok.  Everyone is entitled to their own opinion.  But, until you’ve lived with a child with special needs, you really should try to refrain from judgement.

I will do absolutely everything within my power to help my family and, just as a side note, this is the idea behind the tattoo that I want for my 50th birthday so watch this space!

I’m still a real newbie to this blogging world and, as such, really would benefit from feedback.  If you try this recipe, please let me know how it goes!  So, how far will you go to help your child…….?

Until next time, remember, we are all on our own journeys but we are not alone.  Share the love.

Lyn xx