Category Archives: Diet Type

High Protein Banana Pudding with Cottage Cheese

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Every time I eat a bite of my High Protein Banana Pudding recipe, it’s like a nostalgic trip down memory lane – except with less sugar, less fat, and more protein! That’s very “a-peeling” to my fitness nutrition goals!

High Protein Banana Pudding: A healthy twist on this classic comfort food allows you to enjoy dessert with no guilt while making gains on your daily protein goals! Only 285 calories per serving, with 30g protein! Lower carb, lower, sugar, gluten-free.

Indulge in guilt-free dessert-eating, all while making gains on your daily protein intake. Cottage cheese and protein powder, blended with a banana creates pudding-like mixture that can be layered with banana slices and low-carb vanilla wafers.

Each serving of this cottage cheese banana pudding has 30g protein and 285 calories! A bowl full makes a great workout snack, healthy dessert – or even balanced breakfast (hey, there’s fruit in it!!)

 This lower carb banana pudding blends up easily in a smoothie-sized, smaller personal blender – the recipe yields two servings.

 

High Protein Banana Pudding: A healthy twist on this classic comfort food allows you to enjoy dessert with no guilt while making gains on your daily protein goals! Only 285 calories per serving, with 30g protein! Lower carb, lower, sugar, gluten-free.

You can use the protein powder of your choice: whey, casein, plant-based, or whatever. You may have to add a splash more milk, depending on what type you use – the way it thickens up varies by product.

I used a plant-based protein powder from Nuzest and my milk suggestion in recipe is based on that.  Save 15% on Nuzest with discount code: FITFORK

High Protein Banana Pudding: A healthy twist on this classic comfort food allows you to enjoy dessert with no guilt while making gains on your daily protein goals! Only 285 calories per serving, with 30g protein! Lower carb, lower, sugar, gluten-free.
I used Highkey Vanilla Wafers which are low carb and gluten free.

Whip up this banana cottage cheese recipe quickly – it only takes about 5 minutes, start to finish. No need to let it thicken in the fridge like a boxed pudding mix. It’s best eaten within a few hours after preparation (keep chilled, of course). Any leftovers may be also be kept covered in the fridge for a couple days. However, the banana blended into the cottage cheese and the banana slices may turn slightly light brown. It’s still perfectly fine to eat, the fruit has just come into contact with air and oxidized.

As an Amazon Influencer and Nuzest Affiliate, I earn from qualifying purchases.

4.67 from 6 votes
High Protein Banana Pudding: A healthy twist on this classic comfort food allows you to enjoy dessert with no guilt while making gains on your daily protein goals! Only 285 calories per serving, with 30g protein! Lower carb, lower, sugar, gluten-free.
Print
High Protein Banana Pudding with Cottage Cheese
Prep Time
5 mins
Total Time
5 mins
 

A healthy twist on this classic comfort food allows you to enjoy dessert with no guilt while making gains on your daily protein goals! Only 285 calories per serving, with 30g protein! Lower carb, lower, sugar, gluten-free.

Course: Dessert, Snack, workout
Cuisine: American, Southern
Keyword: banana, cottage cheese, high protein, protein powder
Servings: 2 servings
Calories: 285 kcal
Ingredients
  • 1 cup 2% cottage cheese
  • 1 to 2 tablespoons milk as needed
  • 1 large ripe banana divided
  • 1 scoop protein powder vanilla
  • ¼ cup sugar-free fat-free non-dairy topping
  • 1 ounce low-carb gluten-free vanilla wafers
Instructions
  1. Add cottage cheese, 1/2 banana, 1 Tbs. of milk, and protein powder to blender and process until smooth, scraping down sides as needed.
  2. If mixture seems too thick (which may happen depending on type of protein powder used), then add in the remaining 1 Tbsp milk. However, it is better to have too thick than too runny, so use extra milk sparingly.
  3. Add to bowl and layer ½ of cookies and ½ of the remaining banana slices. Pour in “pudding” mixture and top with remaining cookies and banana slices. Dollop with non-dairy topping. If desired, sprinkle with cinnamon.
Recipe Notes

Makes 2 servings, each serving: 285 cal, 9g total fat (5g saturated), 29g total carb (7g fiber, 12g sugar), 30g protein

No-Sugar Peanut Butter-Chocolate Protein Poke Cake

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5

No-Sugar Peanut Butter-Chocolate Protein Poke Cake is a quick and easy dessert that works with a lower carb, less sugar lifestyle. It’s a favorite for nearly every occasion! Each serving has 186 calories, 6g net carb, 12g fat and 10g protein when prepared as directed. That’s winning!

Poke cakes bring up nostalgic memories of baking up batter in a sheet pan, poking holes in the top, and then pouring on a sauce that gets sopped up by the holes. Traditionally though, the sauces have leaned toward the high-sugar side – sweetened condensed milk, chocolate sauce, pudding, and such. This makeover poke cake recipe uses peanut butter, sugar-free chocolate chips, milk (and some protein powder!) to create a better-for-you yet still decadent cake filling.

Quick, easy and makes 9 servings!

TIPS FOR MAKING PROTEIN POKE CAKE

Cake Mix: For convenience, I used a Fit Bake low-carb yellow cake mix (7-ounce pouch) sized to make a single round layer cake or 8”X8” square cake. You can use any cake mix that you like, just be aware that the Nutrition Facts will change. ALSO, if you are using a mainstream cake mix (like Betty Crocker, etc), those are typically 15-oz for two layers (so you will need to measure out ½ of dry mix for this recipe)

Pan Size: As noted, 8×8” brownie pan will work and is my preference. A 9” round cake pan works too! Anything bigger, the cake becomes too thin. I’ve never made as cupcakes, but the recipe should yield about 12 traditional-sized cupcakes or 6 jumbo cupcakes.

Filling: Use the creamy nut putter of your choice. I did peanut butter, but you can do almond butter, etc. Sugar-free chocolate chips helped keep the carb content down, and a scoop of protein powder added some extra nutrition (really any flavor will work – chocolate, vanilla, cake batter, etc. – as long as you think it sounds good)! I used Nuzest (see below for savings)

Toppings: For convenience, I used a sugar-free non-dairy whipped topping, but you could make your own whipped cream and sweeten with stevia drops. Extra sugar-free chocolate chips and some chopped peanuts for texture and flair!

This post contains affiliate links.

5 from 4 votes
Fun and flavorful, this easy-to-make poke cake will delight peanut butter and chocolate lovers. It's a lower carb and higher protein, so you can enjoy without guilt! A sugar-free and gluten-free dessert for any occasion
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Sugar-Free Peanut Butter Chocolate Poke Cake
Prep Time
5 mins
Cook Time
25 mins
Cooling
10 mins
Total Time
40 mins
 

Fun and flavorful, this easy-to-make poke cake will delight peanut butter and chocolate lovers. It's a lower carb and higher protein, so you can enjoy without guilt! Sugar free and gluten free!

Course: desesrt
Cuisine: American
Keyword: cake, chocolate, gluten free, low carb, peanut butter, protein powder, sugar-free
Servings: 9 servings
Calories: 186 kcal
Ingredients
Cake:
  • 1 7- ounce package Fitbake Yellow Low-carb Cake Mix or similar
  • 3 eggs
  • ½ cup Greek yogurt 0% fat
  • 2 tbsp water
Filling:
  • 1/3 cup creamy peanut butter
  • ½ sugar-free chocolate chips divided
  • ½ cup milk of choice
  • 1/3 cup protein powder either vanilla or chocolate will work
Topping:
  • 4- oz Sugar Free Non-Dairy Topping like SF Cool Whip – ½ the container
  • 1 tbsp chopped peanuts
Instructions

  1. Preheat oven to 350F.

  2. In mixing bowl, mix up cake ingredients and pour out into an 8×8” baking pan that has been sprayed with cooking spray. Bake for 25 minutes. Remove from oven and let cool in pan for 5-10 minutes.

  3. While cake is cooling, make peanut butter chocolate filling. In microwave-safe bowl, add milk, peanut butter and 1/3 cup of the chocolate chips (reserving the remaining for topping). Microwave in 20 second increments, stirring between, until chocolate melted and a smooth consistency achieved. Stir in protein powder.

  4. With end of a wooden spoon, poke holes in cake approximately ¾” apart, all over cake. Pour filling over cake, spreading around with spatula. Let cool a few minutes before spreading around whipped topping and then sprinkling with remaining chocolate chips and chopped peanuts.

  5. Cut into 9 squares. Store leftovers, covered, in fridge for up to 5 days.

Recipe Notes

Chocolate Cookies ‘n Cream Collagen Mini Donuts

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5

It’s been a hot minute since I used my mini donut pan, but these Chocolate Cookies ‘n Cream Collagen Mini Donuts are SO GOOD that I’ll never let that pan get lost in the back of the cabinet again. *

Bake up these yummy chocolate collagen donuts with a cookies 'n creme topping in the oven -- better for you with less fat and calories over traditional doughnuts. This recipe has only 64 cal (with 4.5g protein) per mini donut, is gluten-free, has no added table sugar and features protein and nutrition benefits from collagen.

Baking donuts is such a smart alternative to . . . eh, deep-fat frying. These cookies ‘n crème donuts have a cake donut texture, but without the added calories and fat.

Bake up these yummy chocolate collagen donuts with a cookies 'n creme topping in the oven -- better for you with less fat and calories over traditional doughnuts. This recipe has only 64 cal (with 4.5g protein) per mini donut, is gluten-free, has no added table sugar and features protein and nutrition benefits from collagen.

These chocolate protein donuts feature collagen powder to bump up the nutrition, and also rely on a low-carb sweetener to keep the carbs down. The flour is a mix of coconut flour and then a gluten-free baking blend so that the donuts stay light and fluffy (and not dense like an all-coconut flour recipe).

Save 10% on Great Lakes Wellness products like collagen and others with code THEFITFORK10OFF

I’ve used a chocolate flavored collagen powder from Great Lakes Wellness, it worked so well! BUT, since I have added a couple tablespoons of unsweetened cocoa powder to the recipe to make it even richer and chocolatier, an unflavored collagen powder or vanilla flavor collagen powder would work just fine.

save 10% Great Lakes Wellness collagen and products with code THEFITFORK10off
save 10% Great Lakes Wellness collagen and products with code THEFITFORK10off

Additionally, I’ve used sugar-free chocolate sandwich cookies (ya know, similar to an Oreo) for these crumbled cookie topped chocolate collagen doughnuts . . . in a pinch, you could just use the real thing (there are only 6 cookies across the whole recipes, so it’s minimal), or use another type of sugar-free cookie crumbled up. OR, they are also just pretty dang delicious even without the cookie glaze topping.

Bake up these yummy chocolate collagen donuts with a cookies 'n creme topping in the oven -- better for you with less fat and calories over traditional doughnuts. This recipe has only 64 cal (with 4.5g protein) per mini donut, is gluten-free, has no added table sugar and features protein and nutrition benefits from collagen.

Protein donuts are a great way to ensure that I’m meeting my daily protein goals, and with nearly 5g per little donut it adds up if I have a few for breakfast or a post-workout snack! Leftovers are delicious, just keep them in an air-tight container on the counter for up to a few days (if they even last that long). You can also keep plain, without the icing and cookie topping, in the freezer, for up to 6 months. Just pop out and defrost in the microwave — they are lightly sweet and still delicious “naked.”

Chocolate Collagen Protein Mini Donut without icing

*If you don’t have a mini donut pan, you can use a muffin tin – just add the same amount of batter as (about ¼ cup per tin) and they will cook up the same (just without the hole)!

5 from 5 votes
Bake up these yummy chocolate collagen donuts with a cookies 'n creme topping in the oven -- better for you with less fat and calories over traditional doughnuts. This recipe has only 64 cal (with 4.5g protein) per mini donut, is gluten-free, has no added table sugar and features protein and nutrition benefits from collagen.
Print
Cookies ‘n Creme Chocolate Collagen Donuts
Prep Time
10 mins
Cook Time
15 mins
Cool
5 mins
Total Time
30 mins
 

Chocolate Cookies ‘n Cream Collagen Mini Donuts

Course: Breakfast, brunch, Snack
Keyword: collagen, donut, doughnut
Servings: 24 mini donuts
Calories: 64 kcal
Ingredients
  • ½ cup coconut flour
  • ½ cup gluten-free baking blend like Bob’s Red Mill
  • 2/3 cup collagen power preferably Chocolate Flavor from Great Lakes Wellness
  • 2 Tbsp unsweetened cocoa powder
  • 1/3 cup low-carb granulated sweetener 1:1 cup equivalency
  • 2 tsp baking soda
  • ¼ tsp salt
  • 2 large eggs
  • 1 ½ cups milk of choice, 1%
Topping:
  • 2/3 cup sugar-free white chocolate chips
  • ½ cup heavy cream
  • 6 sugar-free chocolate sandwich cookies, crumbled up
Instructions
  1. Preheat oven to 350F.

  2. Gather 12-count mini donut pan or 12-count standard muffin tins. Recipe makes 24, so if you don't have 2 pans, you'll need to bake in 2 batches.

  3. Add dry ingredients to large mixing bowl, stir together with whisk to combine and remove clumps. Add eggs and milk and whisk together until smooth batter formed.

  4. Add batter (approx. ¼ cup) to each opening in a non-stick mini donut pan. Bake at 350F for about 13-15 minutes. Let cool 2-3 minutes in pan and then loosen with spatula to release from pan.

  5. Let donuts cool 10 minutes.

  6. Then, break up sandwich cookies into small bits and set aside in a bowl. Add white chocolate chips to a microwave safe bowl and heat for 45 seconds on 50% heat. Remove and add cream, return to microwave and heat (stirring between) in 15 second increments until chocolate chips are melted and cream is incorporated into a smooth, glossy glaze. Do not let cream boil.

  7. Immediately turn a donut over into chocolate mixture to glaze the top and then lightly press into cookie crumbles. Repeat for remaining donuts.

  8. Store leftovers in an air-tight container for up to 2 days.

Festive Pomegranate Orange Quinoa Salad – Hassle-free & Healthy Holiday Side

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Deck your plate for the holidays with this festive quinoa salad featuring pomegranate and orange. it’s a beautiful, healthy, delicious recipe elegant enough for the season’s celebrations and simple enough for a simple weeknight dinner.

A simple creamy dressing made with a vinaigrette base along with Greek yogurt and date syrup adds even more flavor to this simple holiday quinoa salad that comes together with just a handful of healthy ingredients.

 

This pomegranate orange quinoa recipes makes 4 servings, each with 146 calories, 26g carbs, 3.1g fat and 4.8g protein.

 I pair this cold quinoa salad with a quality protein to make sure I’m hitting my 25-30g per meal goal. Tonight, I made cod that was simply seasoned and air-fried.

TIPS FOR FESTIVE QUINOA SALAD:

Quinoa: You can use any color quinoa (eg: white, red, black, mixed). Also, consider batch-cooking quinoa and keeping in the freezer in 1-cup portions. This makes creating quick recipes with this healthy whole grain (really a seed), even easier – you can read my quinoa prep post HERE.

Pomegranate & Oranges: Use fresh or pre-packaged, it really only comes down to your preference and time to prep. If using either from a jar, tub, or can, choose “no sugar added” and drain off the juice so the quinoa isn’t soggy later. However, do reserve about 1 tablespoon of pomegranate juice for the dressing (or if fresh, drain it from the bowl after getting the arils out).

Dressing: This recipe makes just enough for the salad, and I prefer underdressed salads. If you think it needs more, double the dressing recipe and pour it on a little at a time – going by taste. Also, if you’d like to turn this from a vegetarian quinoa recipe into a vegan quinoa recipe, then use a substitute for the Greek yogurt, such as a plant-based yogurt, tahini or a natural nut butter.

Optional Ideas: You can swap out the pistachios for a chopped nut of choice like almonds, pecans – or none at all. Also, I love to sprinkle mine with feta cheese for a salty contrast with the sweet.

Make Ahead & Storing: This recipe will get a little soggy if you make the day before. To save time, it’s best to prep the ingredients (cook quinoa, chop spinach, peel/seed fruit, etc) the day before. Then simply toss everything together and shake up the dressing – it will literally just take 2 minutes! You can store leftovers in the fridge for up to 3 days. Still tastes yummy, but the crunch of the nuts and crisp of the spinach will be gone.

This is one of my favorite creative quinoa salad ideas – for it’s flavor, fast-fixing, and festive appearance! Enjoy!

As an Amazon Influencer, I earn from qualifying purchases.

Transform plain quinoa into something to celebrate for the holiday season! Pomegranate, orange segments and pistachios bejewel this quick, easy and nourishing vegetarian salad that is equally beautiful for a dinner party or quick lunch!
Print
Festive Holiday Pomegranate Orange Quinoa Salad
Prep Time
10 mins
Total Time
10 mins
 

Transform plain quinoa into something to celebrate for theholiday season! Pomegranate, orange segments and pistachios bejewel this quick,easy and nourishing vegetarian salad that is equally beautiful for a dinnerparty or quick lunch!

Course: entree salad, Side Dish
Cuisine: holiday
Keyword: holiday, orange, pomegranate, quinoa
Servings: 4 servings
Calories: 162 kcal
Ingredients
  • 1 cup cooked quinoa
  • 1 cup chopped fresh baby spinach
  • ¾ cup pomegranate arils juice drained & reserved if packaged container
  • ¾ cup mandarin orange segments packed in water or juice or fresh
  • ¼ cup shelled pistachio kernels coarsely chopped
Dressing:
  • 1 tablespoon olive oil
  • 1 tablespoon juice reserved from pomegranate or orange segments
  • 1 tablespoon white wine vinegar
  • 2 tablespoons Greek yogurt
  • 1 tablespoon date syrup
  • 1/8 teaspoon salt
Instructions
  1. Add quinoa, spinach, pomegranate and orange segments (cut in half crosswise) into medium bowl.
  2. In small mason jar, shake together dressing ingredients until emulsified.
  3. Pour dressing over salad and gently stir.
  4. Before serving, stir in pistachios.
  5. Best eaten right after making to keep the texture of the lettuce and pistachios. But you can store leftovers in fridge for up to 3 days and it’s still good.
Recipe Notes

Banana Bread Protein Muffins with Chocolate Chips – Smartly Sweet & Delicious

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8

Imagine this: the warm aroma of freshly baked banana bread (in the form of big, tender muffins) wafting through your kitchen, only this time with a powerful protein punch that’s as guilt-free as it is delicious.

Make the drool-worthy dream a reality! These Protein Banana Bread Muffins with Chocolate Chips boast a mere 163 calories and a substantial 12 grams of protein. The secret? A clever combination of wholesome ingredients, including cottage cheese, protein powder, and a gluten-free peanut flour baking blend that replaces traditional flour in a 1:1 replacement ratio without compromising flavor or texture.

Actually, I’ve become a big fan of this peanut baking flour that can be used interchangeably with regular flour, yet keeps recipes gluten free.  PBfit Peanut Flour Baking Blend* has 80% less fat than almond flour, and 10g of protein per serving. It’s very versatile for a wide-range of baking needs (except yeast breads), and simply replace white AP flour with a 1:1 swap. The light (not at all overpowering) peanut flavor is ideal for brownies, cookies, muffins, pancakes, and quick breads. *Note, this is NOT their popular PBfit powdered peanut butter product, it’s a flour blend designed for baking!

I also use cottage cheese, one of my favorite protein-boosting ingredients – and it also keeps the muffins so moist and delicious.

And, a bit of protein powder in this gluten-free banana bread muffin recipe, too – Clean Lean Protein, a plant-based protein powder from Nuzest. Save 15% with my Nuzest discount code: FITFORK )

Watch the 20-second protein banana bread muffin tutorial!

Disclaimer: As an Amazon Influencer, I earn from qualifying purchases.

5 from 4 votes
As a healthy breakfast or snack, this high protein banana muffin recipe (also gluten-free) boasts a mere 163 calories and a substantial 12 grams of protein per big muffin thanks to smart baking swaps.
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Banana Bread Protein Muffins with Chocolate Chips (gluten-free)
Prep Time
5 mins
Cook Time
20 mins
Total Time
25 mins
 

As a healthy breakfast or snack, this high protein banana muffin recipe (also gluten-free) boasts a mere 163 calories and a substantial 12 grams of protein per big muffin thanks to smart baking swaps.

Course: Breakfast, brunch, Snack
Keyword: banana, banana bread, gluten free, muffin, peanut flour
Servings: 6 jumbo muffins
Calories: 163 kcal
Ingredients
  • 1 cup mashed overripe bananas
  • 1/2 cup 0% cottage cheese slightly blended
  • 1 large egg
  • 1/3 cup peanut flour baking blend
  • 1/3 cup vanilla protein powder
  • ¼ cup stevia granulated baking blend.
  • 3/4 tsp. baking powder
  • 1/4 tsp. baking soda
  • 1/8 tsp. salt
  • 1/2 tsp. ground cinnamon
Instructions
  1. Preheat oven to 350F and prepare a 6-count jumbo muffin tin with liners or spray. Set aside.
  2. In bowl, mash up bananas well and stir in cottage cheese and egg. Next stir in remaining dry ingredients (except chocolate) until incorporated.
  3. Mix in 3 tbs of the chocolate chips to batter. Reserve remainder for tops of muffins.
  4. Divide batter among muffin tins, top with that reserved chocolate.
  5. Bake for approx. 20 minutes, or until lightly golden on top and toothpick pulls clean from center.
Recipe Notes

Makes 6 muffins: Each with 163 cal, 22g carb, 3.6g fat and 12g protein.