Muffins make a quick breakfast when you are on the go, but store-bought varieties are often loaded with calories and saturated fat. You can make a healthier muffin when you prepare them at home. This muffin's applesauce and mashed strawberries reduce the need for sugar and oil, and whole wheat flour adds fiber to make them more filling.

Yield: 6 muffins

Preparation time: 15 minutes

Bake time: 20 minutes

Ingredients

• ½ cup sliced fresh strawberries, mashed
• ¼ cup unsweetened applesauce
• 2 large eggs
• ¼ cup raw sugar
• ½ tsp pure vanilla extract
• 2 tsp baking powder
• ¼ tsp fine-ground sea salt
• 1 cup whole wheat flour

Directions

1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit. Spray a standard 6-muffin baking tin with non-stick cooking spray.
2. In a medium bowl, stir the mashed strawberries and applesauce. Stir in the egg until all ingredients are mixed. Stir in the raw sugar and vanilla extract.
3. Add the baking soda and salt. Stir well until the baking soda is completely dissolved and no white clumps remain.
4. Fold in the flour and mix just until all ingredients are incorporated into a batter. Transfer the batter to the muffin tin, filling each slot equally.
5. Bake for 18 to 20 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center of the muffins comes out clean. Let cool for 5 minutes, remove from the muffin tin, and serve warm, or transfer to a wire rack to cool completely.

Lori Rice, M.S., is a nutritional scientist and author with a passion for healthy cooking, exercise physiology, and food photography.