Grinch Muffins (gluten-free, dairy-free)

Has your child ever told you that they don’t like green foods?

Or that they will eat green foods when they are 6 years old (or some other random age)?

I hear this from parents more often than not, but the funny thing is, not all green foods are scary to kids. Especially if it comes in a muffin form. ESPECIALLY if it has a name like Grinch Muffins.

Side note: Credit goes to the talented Ecole Chocolat for the creative brains behind this muffin name! I had posted it on my Instagram stories this week, calling them Green Cranberry Muffins (or something else super boring and unimaginative). They replied to my story with two words…GRINCH MUFFINS! I wanted to jump through the screen and kiss them. Because what we call foods can take their attractiveness to a WHOLE OTHER LEVEL.

As you can tell from my Sneaky Spinach Muffins and Green Eggs No Ham, I love putting a green spin on things!

Snack Inspiration

Here’s what I want you to do with your child (particularly if he/she won’t touch green foods!).

Roll out a blanket, or cuddle up on the couch one night, and read the famous holiday book How the Grinch Stole Christmas. Or put on the flick.

Then in the middle of the movie or the book, ask your child:

“What might make the Grinch less greedy and rude?”

“Do you think a Generous (not Greedy) Grinch Muffin would help?”

Or skip the questions altogether and simply offer up a green muffin. If they aren’t keen, you go ahead and nibble away at this nutrient-rich muffin yourself.

A note on cranberries

Cranberries tend to be the forgotten fruit. Admittedly I kept ignoring the bag of frozen cranberries, pushing them to the back of my freezer. But once cooked cranberries lose their tartiness and are pretty delicious in baking. These berries are rich in antioxidants (over two dozen phytonutrients have been found in cranberries) as well as a good source of Vitamin C and fiber.

So let’s stretch ourselves beyond the typical fruits and berries to include some cranberries at the kitchen table!