Who Says Muffins Can't Be Healthy?

The Garden Lites chocolate muffin

Healthy muffins for travel, for kids, for hoarding at home.

In today's New York Times, there is a recipe for a healthy muffin, with whole grains and reduced sugar. While I love to bake, I know many people don't like to, or are too busy to light the oven, let alone buy all the ingredients to make these themselves.

But there is an even healthier, and easier option. Garden Lites sells frozen, vegetable-focused muffins that somehow taste as decadent as those from a coffee shop.

The Queens, NY company mades three varieties of muffins that all have vegetables as their first ingredient: Blueberry Oat, Banana Chocolate Chip and Chocolate. They are ideal for kids since they are a reasonable two ounces, not the gargantuan muffins at bakeries.

But they aren't just for children. They are great for anyone who needs breakfast on the go, packed with fiber and other nutrients.

Enjoy your muffin from your window seat

All of the muffins are made of 1/3 vegetables; those chocolate muffins have zucchini and carrots as the first two ingredients. I have made zucchini bread with just a few scattered chocolate chips in it and my kids gobble it down like any other sweet bread; zucchini has this magical ability to disappear in baked goods.

The Banana Chocolate Chip is equally kid friendly; though the Blueberry Oat may read too 'healthy' for children, I thought it was perfect for breakfast in the car.

The gluten, dairy and nut free muffins are sold frozen and you heat them in the microwave. You can also just bring a frozen one along and eat it when it defrosts; I took one on an early flight and was happy to have a much better meal than the bloated corn muffins I saw at the airport.