Protein Pancakes-recent obsession

I'm a creature of habit when it comes to my eating. Partly because once I find things I like it's easy to shop and prepare quickly and partly because I just don't have time for trying new things all the time like I used to. So when I promised I would try a few different add-ins for the protein pancakes I've been eating...I fibbed. I just made them the same old way. And enjoyed them yet again! But ya know what, if ain't broke don't fix it!!

1/2c oats (I've used both old fashioned and quick cook-take your pick)
6 egg whites

That's it. For real. Now use your imagination. Or if you don't want to, try the version I've been making:

1T PB2

1T mini chocolate chips\

1t cinnamon

If you love peanut butter and haven't tried PB2-I highly recommend it. You can eat pb and keep your calories under control, there is a nutrition god! Also, I don't always add the chocolate chips so I'm giving you the nutrition data with and without. I'm just liking them with lately.

I scoop 2T of 'batter' for each pancake and it makes about 6. Just be careful not to overcook or they can get tough-it is mostly eggs after all!!

Protein Pancakes                         (per pancake-makes 6)
	w/o chips	with chips
Calories	46	59
Carbs	5	7
Fat	1	1
Protein	5	5
Fiber	1	1

If you're snacking on a couple the chocolate chips aren't going to cut into your calorie count too badly...if you're eating all six as breakfast (or watching sugar intake) you may want to skip, or reduce to 1t instead.

I really do want to try some other versions, I'm thinking dried cranberries with walnuts or shredded apples with pecans?? I have a bad habit of wanting needing something sweet with my morning coffee and these usually serve as a good substitute for something less nutritional. I've been contemplating giving up the coffee just for this reason. 4am workouts have been making that tough though!!

I imagine you could try savory add-in as well. Maybe next weekend...



Fitness Friday

I've been trying to figure out a way to get my workouts into posts and have it make sense all mixed in with the baby stuff. I found that I liked the way another blogger I follow does it: Fitness Fridays (check out Food, Fitness, and Family). She is really great about providing versions of her workouts for readers to do; hopefully I'll get there too, but for now I'll just tell you what I've been up to!

This week is more like what I haven't been up to...

Saturday:   5k race with my mom, bested my time from earlier this year :-)

Sunday:     Lots of family time-chasing kids is a workout right?!

Monday:    Stuck in a car for 8+ hours...BOO!

Tuesday:   Lunchtime power walk-hey, I had a hair appointment after work!

Wednesday: Jillian Michaels 30-Day shred before work

Thursday:  3.25 mile walk/run intervals, ab work while on the floor playing with G

Friday:      P90x Core synergistics before work 

I've been trying to find a good post workout snack. I've been using these Myoplex shakes. I need quick, and also portable since I multi-task like a mad woman at night. Any ideas???

I wish I could have gotten a shot of the mess I made in my car when opening this. I have some scrubbing to do this weekend. Why did I have to get the chocolate kind?!

I'm also now addicted to these super simple protein 'pancakes'. 2 base ingredients (egg whites and oatmeal)and then you take it from there.

I've been adding PB2 powder, cinnamon and sometimes for a treat, a teaspoon of mini chocolate chips. I haven't done the nutritional value on these yet so I'll repost as a stand alone recipe once I get all the deets in order. I'll try some different add-ins before that too. I'm a creature of habit so it'll be good for me!

They're pretty filling and take the place of a muffin for me with my morning coffee.

And just because I thought this pic was hilarious...G has decided she does not like broccolli!!! She kept putting it in her mouth though-silly girl!

Spinach Smoothie-really!

In my first ever WILT... post I mentioned that spinach in a smoothie is good. I made that smoothie again tonight with a few minor modifications. And guess what? It wasn't just a fluke-it's still good! I'm sure you could use other green leafies if you had them; mixed greens or kale but I almost always have spinach, and rarely use it all before it goes bad so this works well for me.

Spinach Smoothie
2 servings

1 cup pineapple-fresh tastes best of course but I used canned :-(
1 medium banana
1 cup spinach
1 cup light vanilla soy milk
3/4" slice firm tofu

This is the original recipe from The Gracious Pantry, but tonight I decided to splurge and add about a teaspoon of stevia and because this is my dinner tonight I also added 1 scoop of vanilla protein powder. I tried the original too, also delicious, I just needed some additional calories and protein to serve as more of a meal replacement.

With these additions the nutrition content per serving is:
Calories:  219
Carbs:     42
Fat:          3
Protein:   13
Fiber:      8

Is it too obvious to say that you place all ingredients in a blender and blend until smooth? I might also suggest some ice if you like your smoothies really cold (I do!) This is the first time I've ever bought tofu and as with the spinach, a good way to try something you're unsure of, but that definitely has nutritional benefits.

I'm going to play around with the fruit used as well-maybe some berries will mask the green color!! ;-)

Gwyn has become my kitchen assistant now that she has a high chair. She loves finally being able to sit up like a big girl and I'll also be able to try more baby led weaning now. I'm sure that will make for some great pics! She was not all that happy tonight since we were running close to her dinner time-hence the smoothie for my dinner, drank while nursing!!

She was also very sleepy as I was told when I picked her up from school today that she "played hard all day" and only took one short nap! Now if only I didn't still need to get up in the night to pump I'd be really excited by the prospect of a heavily sleeping baby all night! Oh well, go enjoy a smoothie. Cheers!