Are Muffins Good Or Bad For You?
Muffins are an easy grab-and-go option for hectic days, but they're often filled with refined carbohydrates, processed sugars, and a large amount of oil or butter. Store-bought varieties tend to be the worst options. According to AllRecipes, many packaged muffins are "glorified cupcakes" full of sugar and fat. "They can be packed with added sugar and low in fiber, sending your blood sugar levels on a roller coaster before you even get to work," Charlotte Martin, MS, RDN, CSOWM, CPT, told AllRecipes.
According to Everyday Health, a blueberry muffin from Dunkin' Donuts contains 460 calories and 41 grams of added sugars. The American Heart Association recommends that adult men do not consume for than 36 grams of added sugars per day and women do not consume more than 25 grams. McDonald's blueberry muffin contains 470 calories and 35 grams of sugar. It also contains 21 grams of fat, which is almost a third of your recommended daily intake.
Muffins are often packaged in large portion sizes
Another reason you should avoid store-bought muffins is that their packaging is often misleading. Many store-bought muffins are packaged in portion sizes that are two or three times as much as you should be eating in one sitting. According to the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, the average size of a muffin has grown from 1.5 ounces to 4 ounces in the last 20 years.
Costco's bakery muffins are extremely popular because of their flavor, but their gigantic size can lead you to consume a hefty dose of sugars, fats, and calories at once. "Starting with calories, large muffins can have a whole meal's worth and then some," Donna Rose RDN, LDN, owner of Nona's Nutrition Notes, told Eat This, Not That!. "Large muffins have all the more saturated fats, sugar, and preservatives than their smaller counterparts."
This isn't to say that all muffins are bad. You can make your own at home with better ingredients like Greek yogurt, bananas, and whole wheat flour to avoid a calorie-, fat-, and sugar-bomb for breakfast. Baking your own muffins at home also allows you to control your portion sizes when you enjoy them later.