Muffin Break Through is More Than a Muffin

Brought to you by Muffin Break and Helen Edwards Creates

I am excited to share with you today a story that I think you are going to connect with, because I know when people with diabetes just get each other, that is when we feel like a stronger community.  Things that seem so small they go unnoticed by someone who does not live with diabetes, can be enormous for us.

A few months ago I got a call from a very lovely woman, to talk with me about a new product which she said would be exciting to people with diabetes. At first I was a bit suspicious about a “special” food option for diabetes, as I imagined some drink or protein bar, but the story was far from that. It was a story of a family who live with type 1 diabetes, wanting to make a difference, wanting to offer a choice in a mainstream food business, that would be delicious, healthy and low carb, as well as being properly marked with the carb grams, to make managing your blood glucose easier. 

Picture this scene – you are out at  large shopping centre, looking for a new dress for a party and maybe some shoes to go with it! Your family want to stop for a cuppa and a snack. They feel like muffins or cake, so you head to the food court. As you stand there looking at all the options you have no idea how much carbohydrate is in each one, you can see they would probably raise your levels fast, you look and look but there are just no reasonable options….so while everyone else has their cake, you stick with your trusty old apple with your cuppa, but feel left out, on the outer, frustrated by your condition. Or you eat cake and deal with the consequences of high blood sugar and a guilt rush. You don’t say anything, but it bugs you and reminds you of your daily ups and downs. That is life with diabetes.

Now picture this. Muffin Break have introduced a nourishing new lower carb muffin range for people with diabetes and anyone wanting a lower carb option. This is an Australian retail first and the number one requested product via their customer feedback. Muffin Break is proud to announce the arrival of the new Lower Carb muffin range designed for the health conscious community, and in particular, those living with diabetes. And it is delicious!

A personal passion project, the new lower carb muffin range has been created by people with diabetes for others living with the condition. Husband and wife John Macphail and Natalie Brennan, long standing Muffin Break employees, know only too well the daily dietary challenges for Australians with diabetes.

Five years in the making following countless taste tests and rigorous nutritional analysis, the lower carb muffin has been the most meticulously developed product in the history of Muffin Break- well I think those of us with diabetes deserve that! With an understanding that counting carbohydrates can be one of the most important parts of controlling the diet for people with type 1 diabetes, the Lower Carb muffins are equal to 1.5 exchanges.

The carbohydrate content of the muffins has been kept consistent whilst maintaining a delicious taste and flavour. Overall health and wellbeing has also been kept in mind during the development of the muffins. As a result, they also have a low GI, are high in fibre, low in sodium and contain a low proportion of saturated fat – all factors important for the long-term health and wellbeing of those with all types of diabetes. The range introduces two new exciting flavours – Berry, Nut & Seeds and Macadamia, Mango and Passionfruit muffins, a fusion of fruit and nuts.

muffin break low carb muffin 2

John Macphail (Muffin Break Brand Manager) has lived with Type 1 Diabetes for almost 30 years diagnosed at 18 years old. Working closely with his wife, Natalie, they have lovingly created the lower carb muffin range to be a part of a balanced diet, not only for people with diabetes but for health conscious people looking for food that provides good health and nourishment.

Natalie Brennan, Muffin Break National Services and Support Manager, says, “One of our twin boys (Ewan) also has Type 1 Diabetes. Being a typical fussy four year old, we struggle to find snacks that contain a regular amount of carbohydrate and are flavoursome whilst supporting a balanced diet. That is why the development of the Lower Carb Muffin range is so important to us and our wider Muffin Break family. We believe in providing customers with a wide range of wholesome, freshly baked on-site products that allow customers to make the right choice for them.”

The Lower Carb muffin range is low GI, lower carb, lower in sugars and kilojoules* plus a good source of fibre, a source of protein, low in sodium and contains a low proportion of saturated fat. They feature a variety of nourishing ingredients such as; chickpea flour and chia seeds with almond meal and natural Greek yoghurt, to only name a few.

Sharon Natoli, Accredited Practicing Dietitian and Director of Food & Nutrition Australia says, “The lower carb muffin range is a welcome addition to the portfolio at Muffin Break that provides specific products to meet the specific health needs of the community, particularly those looking for suitable options when eating out. The lower carb muffins provide 70% less carbohydrate, 75% less sugar and 47-49% less kilojoules compared to a traditional Muffin Break muffin. It’s also good to see that other nutritional factors that are important for people with diabetes have been taken into account during the development of the product, such as ensuring the muffins are high in fibre, low in sodium and have a low GI. These factors mean the muffins are not only a good option for those who need to control their carbohydrate intake but are also suitable for health conscious consumers . . .”

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Freshly baked in-store every day using only the best quality ingredients, this is a snack that you can feel extra good about when out and about. Prepare to go nuts for the Berry, Nut & Seeds muffin- this was my favourite! Filled with a mix of linseeds, almonds, raisins, sunflower and sesame seeds. This muffin is a source of protein, healthy fats, vitamins and minerals. It contains chia seeds and linseeds, which provide healthy omega-3s. Baked fresh every morning on-site in Muffin Break stores, what makes this muffin even more moreish is the burst of berry delicious goji berries, boysenberry, and blackcurrant and apple compote. The goodness factor doesn’t stop there, the army of berries supply antioxidants that help protect cells in the body from damage, along with vitamin C and beta-carotene important for a healthy immune system.

The Lower Carb Macadamia, Mango and Passionfruit muffin contains nourishing and tasty ingredients that will help the body stay energised. Containing mangoes and peaches, health-conscious foodies can benefit from a source of vitamin A & C from the fruit, which helps the body absorb iron from food and potassium for healthy nerve and muscle functioning. The lower carb muffin is also mixed with passionfruit pulp for a summery, tangy flavour. My 7 yr old Maxwell loved this one! Macadamia nuts and shredded coconut contribute to the unique taste of the muffin. I tested them and the impact on my blood glucose, even with my gastroparesis, was excellent. I was easily able to match insulin to the 1.5 exchanges for one muffin.

Muffin Break is committed to providing wholesome, health conscious options for customers, including other options such as; the Gluten Free, Dairy Free, Bran, Low Fat and Weight Watchers® ranges.

The new lower carb range is now available in all Muffin Break stores. I am headed to Sydney this weekend to meet John and Natalie and interview them about their journey, and I will also be having a crack at making the muffins in the muffin lab! Wish me luck and I will share more following the visit!

Have you have the experience of feeling left out when eating out and how did you handle it?

Helen

xx

What you need to know

* One Muffin Break Lower Carb Muffin provides 70% less carbohydrate, 25% less sugar and 47-49% less kilojoules compared to a standard Muffin Break muffin.
* One exchange is based on an amount of food providing 15g carbohydrate.

Lower Carb Macadamia, Mango and Passionfruit Muffin
GI = 34 (low GI)
Ingredients: Lower Carb Muffin Mix (Wheat Flour (Vitamins (Thiamin, Folate)), Chia Seeds, Sugar, Chickpea Flour, Wheat Flour, Wheat Gluten, Egg Powder, Soyabean Flour, Milk Solids Or Skim Milk Powder, Raising Agents (sodium bicarbonate, calcium phosphate, 450), Lupin Bran, Sweeteners (stevia, sorbitol), Flavour, Emulsifier (sodium lactylate), Thickener (464 xanthan gum), Colour (annatto extracts)), Water, Peach, Mango & Passionfruit Compote (17%) (Fruit 65% (Peach 27%, Mango (15%), Apple, Passionfruit (8%), Water, Sugar, Thickener (1442), Preservative (202), Antioxidant (ascorbic acid), Flavour), Yoghurt (Skim Milk, Cream, Milk Solids Non Fat, Live Yogurt Cultures: S. Thermophilus & L Bulgaricus.), Almond Meal, Canola Oil, Macadamia Nuts (1.5%), Passionfruit (2.5%), Coconut.

Lower Carb Berry, Nut & Seeds Muffin
GI = 29 (low GI)
Ingredients: Ingredients: Lower Carb Muffin Mix (Wheat Flour (Vitamins (Thiamin, Folate)), Chia Seeds, Sugar, Chickpea Flour, Wheat Flour, Wheat Gluten, Egg Powder, Soyabean Flour, Milk Solids Or Skim Milk Powder, Raising Agent (sodium bicarbonate, calcium phosphate, 450), Lupin Bran, Sweeteners (stevia, sorbitol), Flavour, Emulsifier (sodium lactlylate), Thickener (464, xanthan gum), Colour (annatto extracts)), Water, Boysenberry & Blackcurrant With Apple Compote (14%) (Fruit 65% (Apple (27%), Boysenberry (22%), Blackcurrant (16%)), Water, Sugar, Thickener (1442), Preservative (202), Antioxidant (ascorbic acid)), Trail Seed Mix (14%) (Pepitas, Almonds, Sunflower, Raisins, Linseed, Goji Berries, Sesame Seed), Yoghurt (Skim Milk, Cream, Milk Solids Non Fat, Live Yogurt Cultures: S. Thermophilus & L Bulgaricus.), Almond Meal (7%), Canola Oil.

 

muffin break lower carb muffin