Strawberry Protein Pancakes

When weekend mornings roll around, I like to mix up my usual grab-and-go protein shake routine and spend a few extra minutes whipping up guilt-free, yet super tasty protein pancakes. If you look on Pinterest, you’ll probably find a million different ways to make protein pancakes, and trust me, it feels like I’ve tried them all.

So, I wanted to share my all-time favorite, go-to protein pancake with you all. The batch I made over Memorial Day weekend was the tastiest yet – thanks to the addition of fresh strawberries and my “secret ingredient,” Almond Breeze’s Hint of Honey Vanilla almond milk.

At just 60 calories per serving, the Hint of Honey Vanilla almond milk adds creamy, rich depth to the pancake batter, but without sacrificing one’s waistline. It gave it just a hint of sweetness, which was great because it helped cut back on syrup afterwards.

If you don’t have this type of almond milk on hand, any milk should work just fine. Similarly, if you don’t have fresh strawberries, feel free to use blueberries, raspberries, or even make these plain (still delicious, I promise!).

Ingredients (for 1 serving, 4 mini pancakes):

• ½ banana, mashed
• 1 scoop vanilla protein powder
• ¼ cup egg whites
• Sprinkle of cinnamon, to taste
• 1 tablespoon of almond milk – I used Almond Breeze’s Hint of Honey Vanilla
• Fresh strawberries, optional
• All natural agave syrup as a topping, optional

Directions:

1. Mash ½ of a ripe banana in a bowl, until a thick puree forms.
2. Add protein powder, cinnamon, egg whites, and almond milk. Stir well, until a pancake batter consistency is achieved.
3. Heat a skillet over medium heat. Drop in a SMALL ladle-full of the batter. Cook on one side for about 3-4 minutes, and flip. Repeat until the remainder of the batch is cooked.
4. Sprinkle with more cinnamon and sliced strawberries. Enjoy!

Note: The first pancake will take longer to cook, as the pan is just heating up. Pancakes made towards the end will only take about a minute on each side.

21 Day Fix Tally: These protein pancakes should be counted as 1 purple and 1.5 red containers. If drizzling peanut butter on top, please factor in 2 tablespoons.

This post is sponsored by Almond Breeze almond milk.

Weekend Warrior: 3 Tips to Stay Healthy During the Weekend

I find that weekends are the hardest part of the week to remain “on track” with clean eating and exercise. For me, Friday afternoon rolls around, and suddenly I’m headed to Starbucks for an end-of-week chocolatey drink, then get home and enjoy my weekly takeout with my fiancé. I will never give up Friday night takeout, no matter what – it’s a tradition of ours that I work hard to enjoy.

That’s my Friday, in a nut shell. Do I feel bad about it? No, because I usually stick to my nutrition and workouts every other day of the week. So, Friday nights are my splurge.

HOWEVER, I always try to be on my best behavior on Saturdays and Sundays, to achieve the 80% clean, 20% cheat balance. How do I do this? A few of my favorite tips are below:

1. Go grocery shopping!

This is my Saturday morning ritual. First thing in the morning, to beat the crowds, I’m at the grocery store stocking up on fresh veggies, fruits, and healthy pantry items to eat throughout the week. Here’s what my cart looked like just last week – don’t mind the ice cream treats for dogs. J Lean meats, veggies, fruits and nuts are the bulk of it.

2. Create healthy, yet equally as delicious, weekend morning breakfasts.

This past weekend, I made Perfect Fit protein pancakes from the Tone It Up Nutrition Plan. This recipe is not available to non-TIU Plan members, so while I cannot share this exact one, there are still TONS of protein pancake recipes on Pinterest. Try one and you’ll be pleasantly surprised at how much they taste like Aunt Jemima’s – without the guilt. I like to sprinkle cinnamon on mine, and drizzle with all-natural Nature Nate’s Raspberry Honey Syrup. YUM!

3. Find just 30 minutes to exercise.

Autumn Calabrese of the 21 Day Fix is known for saying, “you can do anything for 30 minutes!” I like to believe you can also make time for anything in 30 minutes. Go for a quick 3 mile run outside if weather permits; play your favorite 30-minute at-home workout DVD; or simply take your dog(s) for a long walk around the neighborhood. You don’t need to spend grueling hours at the gym to get your exercise in, especially during the weekend when you want to also accomplish other things, like spending time with family and friends, shopping (see tip #1), and house chores.

Prepping for an outdoor run; love funny workout tops like this!

Most importantly, even if you do have a bad weekend here and there, remember that this is a lifestyle change. There will always be cheat meals, lazy weekends, and social gatherings with cake and alcohol – it’s a part of life! But remember to get back on the wagon once the start of the week rolls around. Tomorrow will always be a new day.

What are your best tips for eating healthy and getting in exercise during the weekend? Drop them in the comments section below.