ENJOY SPRING BREAK MUFFINS-
Nutrition
Spring Break can be a time of renewal for families who have children with Attention Deficit Disorder. It’s a time to let go of some of the stress that daily life can bring. However, letting go of the stress should never mean scrapping all of your structure. Plan some enjoyable activities. Structure the time, so that everybody will enjoy the family time together. Here are some ideas that can help your family create a fantastic Spring Break.
Find some time to cook together as a family. Why don’t you try putting together some time saving muffins? Bake them and freeze part of the muffins for use when school is in session. They make fine breakfasts and snacks. The Live Well With ADD website Nutrition Page often has muffin recipes. So that you can have a muffin recipe for Spring Break, I am including one at the end of this article. If you want to make them a bit sweeter, and not quite as healthy, just increase the sugar a bit. Do you have a favorite soup recipe that your family enjoys? Make a double batch and freeze a meal for later when you don’t have a lot of time to cook. Have your kids cook it along with you. Then, you'll have two meals and some high-quality time with your children.
After making your delicious muffins, take them someplace special to munch on them. Spend some time outdoors. Research has shown that time spent in large open spaces (green time) can help your child’s concentration. Discover how green time can help your whole family feel better. It’s a great activity to do with your children. Ask your children where they would like to go to spend their green time.
Do you meditate? After those yummy muffins, take some time for yourself and meditate in the outdoors. Choose a day that is comfortable for sitting outside. Find a safe and peaceful area. Then, meditate and lower your stress! Our www.livewellwithadd.com Live Well Page can give you pointers on meditation.
Plan a Spring Break that your family will always remember…and for good reasons! This starts with planning the week. Your planning makes the difference between a ho-hum week, one with people yapping at each other in frustration, or a fabulous week where children and adults get their needs met and have a good time! Plan a few things that cost very little and everybody enjoys. If you have the extra cash, do something special.
In any group’s endeavor, and Spring Break is just that, it is important to find out what each person expects from the experience. Find ways that everybody will get to do some things that are important to them. ADD might mean that you need to plan a little more for success, but people with Attention Deficit Disorder can be extremely creative planners. Turn your creative juices on and let them flow! This can be a Spring Break to remember.
Try making these delicious muffins with the kids on Spring Break!
In addition to being nutritionally sound, these are meals in minutes. Grab two muffins, a handful of walnuts, carrots, an apple, and a V-8 for a complete meal. These muffins simplify my life. Whatever makes my life simpler helps me live a better life with my Attention Deficit Disorder. They make excellent Spring Break picnic meals!
Time Saver Flax Muffins
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Ingredients:
¾ cup flax meal
2 ½ cup whole wheat flour (freshly ground or whole wheat pastry flour)
1 teaspoon baking powder
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon salt
1/3 cup loosely packed brown sugar
1 teaspoon ground pumpkin spice or cinnamon
1/2 cup mixed raisins and dried cranberries (I like cranberries, while my husband likes raisins)
¾ cup walnut pieces
¼ cup canola or olive oil
1 egg
1 ½ cup sour milk (1 ½ tablespoon vinegar in a measuring cup, and then add milk. Stir and let stand 10 minutes)
2 teaspoons vanilla
¼ cup molasses
1 cup grated apple or carrots (zucchini is lovely in the summer)
3 tablespoons grated orange peel
1 tablespoon grated ginger
Directions:
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Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
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Combine dry ingredients in a large bowl
Beat the sour milk, oil, and egg together
Combine wet and dry ingredients. Grate apple (or carrots), orange peel, and ginger into the batter. Stir the ingredients until just combined.
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Spray muffin tins with no stick cooking spray. Spoon batter into muffin tins and bake at 350 degrees F. for about 25 minutes. Test with a toothpick or piece of spaghetti. It should come out clean.
Makes about 24 muffins.
