Double Chocolate Greek Yogurt Muffins

Starting off your morning with a chocolate muffin is never a bad way to start the day. The thing I love about chocolate is that it's not only mouth watering, but it's also brain stimulating too! Chocolate releases dopamine (a feel good chemical) into our brains whenever we ingest it, making it, quite literally, a bite of happiness. This isn't new information by any means, but it is always important to remember that chocolate can cure any sadness put in its way.

Diet culture has given chocolate a bad rep for no reason. For people that have genuine health issues related to glucose intake or diabetes, then too much chocolate could be a problem. I'm talking mostly about the propaganda regarding chocolate being an unhealthy food. If unhealthy foods release positive chemicals into our brains and create decadent desserts for our tummies, then so be it! When I was going through restrictive eating of my own, I stayed away from chocolate because I was afraid it would make me fat or bloated. I swear to god, the diet industry has basically made it so that even if you look at a piece of chocolate, you will turn into Bruce from Matilda. Side note, that is one of the hardest movie scenes to watch! I always wanted to get up there and try and finish that cake with him!

Now, I try and eat a little bit of chocolate every day. I have learned that moderation is key, so some days, eating a handful of M and M's does the job and other days a chocolate chip muffin hits the spot more. Moderation is never cutting out a food, but rather eating it in small doses whenever you want because the minute you take something away from yourself, your body craves it more.

These double chocolate chip greek yogurt muffins are perfect as a breakfast, snack, or dessert!

The tang from the greek yogurt mixed with the sweetness of the chocolate come together to create a the perfect flavor combination for any chocolate lover.

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Ingredients (makes 10 muffins):

• 1 C of flour

• 2 tbsp cocoa powder

• 1 1/2 tsp baking powder

• 1/2 tsp baking soda

• 1/8 tsp salt

• 1/2 C greek yogurt (I use Chobani)

• 1 snack sized unsweetened applesauce (100 ml)

• 1/2 C egg whites or 1 egg

• 1 tsp vanilla extract

• 1 tsp sugar

• 2 tbsp maple syrup

• Handful of chocolate chips

Directions:

*Preheat oven to 375 degrees

1. Whisk the flour, cocoa powder, baking powder, baking soda, and salt

2. Add in the greek yogurt, applesauce, egg whites, vanilla, sugar, and maple syrup into the dry ingredients and mix well

3. After mixture is smooth, fold in the chocolate chips

4. Gently scoop batter until about 2/3 full into a muffin tin that's been oiled or lined with muffin liners, and add in a few chocolate chips on top for extra sweetness

5. Bake for 12-14 minutes

**These muffins should be stored in the fridge for up to a week of freshness