I wrote this blog post in the thick of COVID and was about to update it to the “current times”.  But I decided to keep it as is for memories sake. I appreciate these Pumpkin Banana Muffins even more remembering I made them amidst the chaos.  As a mom of three, with a two, four, and six year old in tow, while running my own business, teaching them French, and barely keeping my head above water.

So this post isn’t just a recipe post.  It’s a reflection and celebration of what we (as busy parents) conquered over the past few years.

Let’s go make some pumpkin muffins!

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If you’re wondering how a mom of three is doing right now…I’d say not bad considering the circumstances.

Sleep (B) The kids are going to bed later (so am I) but we have no school to wake up for!  It’s also when I do a chunk of work.

Fitness (A-) I’m working out every morning and the kids get outside everyday. Could be more if it wasn’t frigid out there! There’s a pool waiting for us.

Health (A+) There are no coughs, colds, and thankfully no COVID in this house.  Then again, we haven’t exposed ourselves to other humans either.

Food (A)  We are cooking meals every single day. They aren’t complicated but they are healthy, tasty and my kids don’t complain about what’s on the table.  That deserves an A right?  Then again, this is my area of expertise so it should be an A!

School (C-) We don’t have much of a schedule yet. We have to fit homework in between my coaching calls, etc. So it’s a bit here and there, but not more than 30 minutes a day.  Ugh!

Making Pumpkin Muffins with my kids deserves an A+

Every week my girls have been helping me make a new recipe.  We even share these recipes in the Raising Adventurous Eaters CLUB – my monthly membership for parents who want to feel inspired at mealtimes. So I show them what foods to focus on each month, how to offer them in an engaging way, so their child learns to like them faster.  And yes, they get lots of delish recipes too.

As for my girls…they are learning a lot through the process. They now know what dates are, along with baking powder, cocoa powder, vanilla, and even spirulina.  Plus they are getting the hang of measurements…slowly.

That counts as homeschooling right?

Especially if we use the Curious Cookie Food Adventure Mat or the Curious Mealtime Fun Cards to explore the foods we make. Because they teach my kids about their sensory system, they are learning new descriptive words (thanks to the visuals on the mat), and learning about nutritional categories and benefits of food (with the Balanced Meal activity on the back of the Food Adventure Mat)

Today was an extra good day because:

…I did a virtual workout with a friend (gosh I miss seeing other humans!),

…My kids have already been outside (albeit, running around with Barbies and mermaids).

…Sienna did her french homework without be begging her.

…My 2 year old is not sitting on my lap write I finish this blog post.

…My 4 year old made Pumpkin Banana Oat Muffins.  And she pretty much did it by herself.  I brought over the ingredients and she did the rest.

Pumpkin Banana Oat Muffins = Orangey Muffins

I asked Naomi what she wanted to call these Pumpkin Banana Oat Muffins, and her answer was “Orangey Muffins”.  So there you have it.  If it were up to me I would call them “Cook your way through COVID” muffins, or “March Break that never ends” muffins, or “Homeschooling Plan C” muffins.

But for now, they are “Orangey”.

We make a lot of muffins.  They are just too easy to pack with nutrition and turn into a balanced snack. But I don’t post recipes as often because I don’t want my blog to be a muffin haven.  Yet these  Pumpkin Banana Oat Muffins. are different.  They are:

crunchy on the top

soft and moist in the middle

with a beautiful orange colour (hence “orangey”)

They were also perfect because the ingredients are flexible, simple and accessible (likely ones you already have at home or can have ordered in).  Which is important for those who can’t get out to grab a bunch of random ingredients.

Canned pumpkin (with Non-BPA, non-BPS can lining) – you can swap the pumpkin with mashed cooked carrots (or more banana)

Banana 

Oats (rolled oats, not quick)

Coconut oil 

Dairy-free milk (my new favourite is Elmhurst)

If you have a lot of treats laying around, these Pumpkin Banana Oat Muffins are a healthy (no-sugar) distraction.  Case in point: I couldn’t get a picture before someone stole a muffin. They shall rename nameless.

Let’s get you that recipe!