Lemon Hemp Breakfast Muffins? This recipe gives a whole new meaning to “wake and bake!” 

Many recipes for lemon poppy seed cake, the simple tea cake loaf that inspired this recipe for Lemon Hemp Breakfast Muffins, contain two sticks of butter and two heaping cups of sugar! Yikes.

In lightening this recipe up, I’ve made it less sweet, fantastic to be served at breakfast or brunch. The tender crumb is not overly rich, yet and packed with luscious tart lemon flavor.  I’m also substituting hemp seeds for poppy seeds and baking individual muffins for better portion control. You will love them! 

Speaking of control, this newsletter highlights a best life living tip about giving up control and how it can help your mental heath. The key? Be like water.

Plus, ideas and inspiration from a favorite follow of mine, Frances Largeman-Roth. She’s got a new book out and it’s packed with easy ideas and recipes for snack boards. Check it out!

Best Life Living Tip

Water always flows downhill.  The path of least resistance describes the simplest path from point A to point B. It’s the easiest route forward among a given set of alternatives.

I found myself earlier in the week considering that I needed to let something go and be like water, to take the path of least resistance. For an in-charge, admittedly bossy, over-achieving perfectionist, this was a moment that gave me pause as I thought it. (As in “Wow, did I just think that?)

Undoubtedly,  I am not an advocate of taking the easy route. Often things worth having require hard work, time, energy, and great effort. And then face it — sometimes they just don’t and we make it that way.

Here’s a checklist from Sentry Health on how you can let go of control and be more like water. There are physical and mental benefits to letting go.

It’s all about control. The art of surrender is a best life living tip on finding peace. We cannot control the actions of others, only how we respond.

Self-Care Technique

Self-care is a roving bulls-eye, isn’t it? From yoga in the park to lightening up recipes it can feel like there’s always something to do, that we are always “behind.”

It doesn’t have to be that way. When even self-care can feel overwhelming, it’s time to dial down the expectations.

Pick one thing, one action, one simple technique that you can do to help you. Need some inspiration? Upworthy shares 101 things you can do to take care of yourself!

My newest expression for people that I care about is, “Take care of Yourself.” It’s up to us. You have to take care of you.

You can do it!

Ideas and Inspiration from Experts

Snacking may seem like the opposite of “taking care of yourself” but it doesn’t have to be.

Frances Largeman-Roth is a New York Times best selling author and nationally recognized health expert. We met on set for a satellite media tour and I was instantly struck by how kind and friendly she was. You may have seen her on the Today Show, Good Morning America, Access Hollywood Live, CNN, The Rachael Ray Show, or The Dr. Oz Show.

I love her videos over on Instagram — give her a follow at @Franceslroth

Her new awesome book, Everyday Snack Tray tackles snack boards. Snack boards are great, but they can really derail any sort of healthy eating plan if you are not careful. Frances has your answer to healthy and delicious summer snacking. You are going to love it!

Point it Out

These Lemon Hemp Breakfast Muffins come in at only 212 calories a muffin — not nearly 700 like the ones from Costco. Lordy mercy! They come in low on calories, but if you follow WW smart points, they rack up a heaping 12 points per muffin. Still, consider having a muffin alongside a bowl of point-free fruit and yogurt and you are good to go for a filling and healthy breakfast.

These Lemon Hemp Seed Muffins are made with natural, healthy, wholesome ingredients that are good and good for you.

Thanks so much for reading. Please let me know what you think and if you give the muffins a try.

Bon Appétit Y’all!

Virginia Willis

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Lemon-Hemp Muffins

Hemp seeds, which are also often called hemp hearts, are a highly nutritious food. They’re over 30% fat and are rich in two essential fatty acids: alpha-linolenic acid (omega-3) and linoleic acid (omega-6). The ratio of omega-6 to omega-3 is typically 2:1 or 3:1 in hemp seeds, which is considered excellent for human health. You can find hemp seeds online, at Whole Foods Market, in health foods stores, and in the health food section of better grocery stores.

Prep Time15 minutes mins

Cook Time25 minutes mins

Course: Appetizer, Breakfast, Dessert, Snack

Cuisine: American

Keyword: breakfast muffin, healthy muffin, lemon glazed muffin, lemon hemp muffin, lemon muffin, lemon poppyseed muffin

Servings: 12

Calories: 210kcal

Author: Virginia Willis

Ingredients

• 1 cup unbleached all-purpose flour plus more for the pan
• ½ cup whole wheat pastry flour
• 2 tablespoons hemp seeds, divided
• 1½ teaspoons baking powder
• ½ teaspoon baking soda
• ¼ teaspoon fine sea salt
• 1 cup fat free skyr or Greek yogurt
• 1/2 cup granulated sugar
• 3 large eggs
• Finely grated zest of 2 large lemons
• 1/3 cup plus 1 tablespoon freshly squeezed lemon juice
• 2 teaspoons pure lemon extract, optional
• 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
• ½ cup pure olive oil
• ¼ cup confectioners’ sugar

Instructions

• Position a rack in the center of the oven and preheat the oven to 350°F. (If using a dark metal pan, preheat the oven to 325 °F.) Generously coat an 8½ by 4½ by 2½-inch metal loaf pan with nonstick cooking spray and dust with flour; set aside.
• Combine the flours, chia seeds, baking powder, baking soda, and salt in a medium bowl. Whisk the yogurt, granulated sugar, eggs, lemon zest, 1/3 cup of the lemon juice, lemon extract, vanilla, and oil in a large bowl until well blended. Add the flour mixture to the yogurt mixture, stirring until just combined. Transfer batter to the prepared pan.
• Bake until the loaf is golden brown and a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean, about 25 minutes.
• Combine the confectioners’ sugar and remaining tablespoon of lemon juice in a small bowl, stirring until smooth. Drizzle the glaze over the cooled muffins.

Nutrition

Calories: 210kcal | Carbohydrates: 24g | Protein: 6g | Fat: 12g | Saturated Fat: 2g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 2g | Monounsaturated Fat: 7g | Trans Fat: 0.01g | Cholesterol: 42mg | Sodium: 169mg | Potassium: 76mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 9g | Vitamin A: 74IU | Vitamin C: 3mg | Calcium: 61mg | Iron: 1mg

Let’s cook something up! If you are interested in hosting me for a speaking engagement, event, cooking class, or a book signing, let me know! Send an email to assistant@virginiawillis.com and we’ll be back in touch as soon as possible.

I am not a doctor, RD, or health professional. I am simply sharing what works for me. My blog is for informational or educational purposes only and does not substitute professional medical advice or consultations with healthcare professionals.

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Good and Good for You with Virginia Willis is a lifestyle brand that shares food, fun, and fitness through digital channels and online community; events, seminars, and speeches; and print media. For more information visit virginiawillis.com