Gingerbread Chai Oat Milk Latte with Collagen

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Gingerbread Chai Oat Milk Latte with Collagen is the perfect hot beverage to add spice and coziness to the holidays.  

Gingerbread Chai Oatmilk Latte with Collagen – my better-for-you version of a coffee shop holiday and Christmas favorite. Easy to make, no added sugar, and a boost of protein plus other benefits. 153 calories, 14g protein

‘Tis definitely the season for comforting, hot lattes, cappuccinos, lattes and more, but so many coffee-shop favorites make the naughty list, filled with unnecessary calories and sugar. While I might partake in such an indulgence every now and then, a healthy chai latte or is what I’d make to drink at home.

This makeover chai latte recipe is easy to make, requiring just a few simple ingredients – a chai tea bag, a zero-carb sweetener, spices, oatmilk, and – surprise, collagen powder.

Gingerbread Chai Oatmilk Latte with Collagen – my better-for-you version of a coffee shop holiday and Christmas favorite. Easy to make, no added sugar, and a boost of protein plus other benefits. 153 calories, 14g protein

I use a couple tablespoons of unflavored collagen powder from Great Lakes Wellness –it dissolves amazingly and with no clumps in hot liquids. In addition to the many benefits of collagen, I love that it adds protein to my day.

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

A “Grande” (16-oz) serving of my healthy gingerbread chai latte has just 153 calories, only 4g sugars and 14g protein – while the popular coffee shop version has 310 calories and a whopping 54g sugar and only 2g protein per.  

TIPS FOR MAKING GINGERBREAD CHAI OATMILK LATTE

Mug: Make sure you mug is large enough to hold all the liquids – air in the frothed almond milk gives it more volume, so to be safe and prevent overflows, I’d go with a 20-ounce mug.

Tea: Brew the chai tea of your choice, there are many varieties with varying flavor profiles, use your favorite loose or tea sachet.  I used a Vanilla Chai tea bag from Aplenty (an Amazon brand, it tasted great and was priced very economically). Also, steep the tea in just 4 ounces of boiling water, no more. It should be concentrated so that it flows into the steamed and frothed milk.

Milk: While this particular healthy chai latte recipe calls for oat milk, it’s fine to swap out for what you have in the fridge or what works best for your dietary needs. When it comes to alternative milks, I feel like oat milk froths up thicker and creamier than almond milk – I use the Barista Blend by Good Karma , it’s also shelf stable, so I can always have a new carton waiting in my pantry.

To Froth or Not: A true latte has a shot of espresso (I’m using chai tea here), a layer of steamed milk, and a layer of frothed milk. Do this if you want to make a chai latte like Starbucks. I use Pitcher-style Milk Frother & Steamer, but a little hand-held frother works too. However, if you do not have these coffee tools available, simply heat milk in the microwave until hot – the latte won’t have froth on top, but will still taste amazing.

Sweetener: I avoid having added sugar in my beverages, whether hot or cold. Obviously, real milk has some sugar in the form of lactose and oat milk has maltose – I’m okay with that. What I don’t want is added sugar to make it taste sweet. Instead, I’ll use a zero or lower carb alternative like monk fruit or stevia. Better Stevia (liquid drops) from NOW is my favorite hot beverage sweetener, they even have a “chai” flavor which is what I used in lieu of additional spices.  Honey, agave or maple syrup would work too, but will change the nutritional content. When it comes to sweeteners, I’m always like, “You do you!”

Gingerbread Chai Oatmilk Latte with Collagen – my better-for-you version of a coffee shop holiday and Christmas favorite. Easy to make, no added sugar, and a boost of protein plus other benefits. 153 calories, 14g protein

As an Amazon Influencer, I earn from qualifying purchases.

Gingerbread Chai Oatmilk Latte with Collagen – my better-for-you version of a coffee shop holiday and Christmas favorite. Easy to make, no added sugar, and a boost of protein plus other benefits. 153 calories, 14g protein
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Gingerbread Chai Oat Milk Latte with Collagen
Cook Time
5 mins
Total Time
5 mins
 

Gingerbread Chai Oatmilk Latte withCollagen – my better-for-you version of a coffee shop favorite. Easy to make, no added sugar, and a boost of protein plus other benefits. So cozy and sweet andspicy, happy holidays!

Course: beverages
Keyword: chai, gingerbread, holiday, starbucks, steak
Servings: 1 serving
Calories: 152 kcal
Ingredients
  • 1 chai tea bag
  • 4 oz water
  • 5-10 chia-spice liquid stevia drops or other sweetener option *if not using chia-spiced sweetener, add ground spice alternative (1/4 tsp each: ginger, cinnamon, nutmeg)
  • 2 tbsp collagen powder
  • 8 oz unsweetened Oat Milk
  • Pinch ground cinnamon for garnish
Instructions

  1. Boil water and steep chai tea for 3 minutes. Stir in collagen powder until dissolved.

  2. Add chai-spiced stevia.* If using an unflavored stevia or other sweetener, add in approx1/4 tsp each ground ginger, ground cinnamon, ground nutmeg to taste.

  3. Heat/steam half of the oat milk and stir into chai.

  4. Froth remaining oat milk and gently pour on top of chai-milk mixture.

  5. If desired, sprinkle with a little more cinnamon.

Recipe Notes

Easy Pot Roast Soup to Warm Up Winter

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Warming up with a bowl of hearty Pot Roast Stew is so comforting – and delicious. Plus, it’s surprisingly easy to make – after browning the beef and prepping ingredients, it pretty much just simmers itself into a pot of perfection.

And, it’s also quite nutritious –even being “comfort food” and all! Beef and lots of veggies makes it a balance meal to fuel your life. A serving has 301 calories, 11g fat, 23g carbs and 23g protein.

How to Make Pot Roast Stew – Tips and Tricks

What cut of beef should I use for stew? The “stew meat” already packaged up at the supermarket works just fine. This “stew meat” is typically cut from the top or bottom eye roast – it’s lean!  If you’d like a little more flavor, a chuck roast works well, and I’ve even used sirloin steak. To make life easier on yourself, you can as the butcher to cut it up into chunks for you rather than cutting it up at home.

Do I really need to brown the Stew Meat? Browning the beef is a cooking step you don’t want to skip – while you CAN dump it in with the liquid ingredients and it will cook, you will be missing that deep caramelized flavor that develops on browned beef. This process really adds depth to any beef soup or beef stew. When browning beef, be mindful that you haven’t overcrowded the pot. Overcrowding will cause beef juices to be created faster than they evaporate – making your beef steam rather than brown. But, this pot roast soup recipe calls for just 1.25 lbs which should have enough room to brown nicely in the recommended 3.5 Quart Dutch Oven.

Can I cut the simmering time? Don’t rush the simmering, when you simmer the beef in liquid, it helps break down any connective tissues and create a melt-in-your-mouth eating experience – plus helps all the flavors co-mingle in harmony. Simmering low and slow also cooks the carrots and potatoes just right (but add the more tender peas and mushrooms in the last 20 minutes). The good news is that even though this beef stew recipe needs to simmer for about 75-90 minutes, it process is basically hands-off – just set the pot on the stove!

Is there a substitute for wine? Yes, you canomit it and use a little more broth or add add with a 1/2 part red wine vinegar and 1/2 part water mixture.

Can I substitute vegetables? Yes, as long as everything is cut up into bit-sized pieces – try parsnips instead of carrots, sweet potatoes instead of russet potatoes, bell peppers instead of celery. The recipe is very accommodating.

5 from 5 votes
Enjoy a hearty, comforting meal in a mug (or bowl) with this simple, yet so flavorful stew recipe that will remind you of Grandma's Pot roast. Perfect for soup season.
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Easy Beef Pot Roast Soup
Prep Time
9 hrs 15 mins
Cook Time
1 hr 20 mins
Total Time
1 hr 45 mins
 

Enjoy a hearty, comforting meal in a mug (or bowl) with this simple, yet so flavorful recipe that will remind you of Grandma's Pot roast.

Course: entree soup, Soup
Cuisine: American
Keyword: beef, pot roast, stew
Servings: 6 servings
Calories: 301 kcal
Ingredients
  • 2 tbsp olive oil
  • 2 tsp black pepper
  • 2 tsp garlic powder
  • 5 cups beef broth
  • ½ cup red wine
  • 1 ¼ lb. beef stew meat, 1” chunks ( like top or bottom round, chuck, sirloin, etc)
  • 1 medium onion chopped in larger pieces
  • ½ cup chopped celery
  • 1 cup carrots coarse chop
  • 1 lb. russet potatoes peeled chopped approx. 1” cube
  • ¼ cup jarred tomato-based pasta sauce (like Rao's or Ragu) or 2 tbsp tomato paste
  • 2 tbsp freeze-dried Italian herb blend
  • 1 cup mushrooms chopped
  • ¾ cup frozen peas
  • 1 tbsp cornstarch
  • ¼ cup water
Instructions

  1. Add olive oil to Dutch oven and bring to medium-high heat.

  2. Add stew meat, onions, salt, pepper and garlic powder to pot and cook, stirring frequently, for about 6-7 minutes or until beef browned.

  3. Pour in beef broth and wine into hot pan to deglaze, stirring to pull up any crusted bits on bottom of pan.

  4. Add celery, carrots, potatoes and pasta sauce and simmer on medium low with lid on (but cracked for steam release) for about 60 minutes.

  5. Then add mushrooms, frozen peas and a slurry of cornstarch mixed with the water (this will help thicken). Cook an additional 20 to 30 minutes with lid off.

Recipe Notes

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!

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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!
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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

Festive Sugar-Free Loaf Cake with Cranberry Ginger Chia Sauce

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Bring a healthy balance and festive vibe to your holiday dessert spread with the delightful addition of this Sugar-Free Loaf Cake paired with Cranberry Ginger Chia Sauce.

Crafted in the classic loaf pan size*, this delectable treat is tailored for intimate gatherings, serving up to 8 portions. The uncomplicated yet luscious sweet-tart topping is a swift stove-top blend of fresh cranberries, zesty ginger, and wholesome chia seeds that simmer together into a versatile topping – part syrup, part compote.

Watch this short tutorial!

Each serving of this delicious dessert, adorned with the inspired-by-the-season sauce, boasts a modest 214 calories, 13g of fat, 13g of net carbs, and an impressive 85% daily value for vitamin D.

Beyond this reasonable nutrition profile, the versatility of the leftover cranberry ginger chia sauce is prolific. Add easy holiday flair to breakfast, brunch or desserts by drizzling it over waffles, ice cream, Greek yogurt parfaits, and more.

This Sugar-Free Loaf Cake with a sauce made from cranberries not only serves as a smart dessert choice but is also a simple yet scrumptious way to spread holiday cheer among friends and family. You could even wrap up a loaf in cellophane and add sauce to a mason jar and give as an edible holiday gift to share the joy of this guilt-free, lower carb holiday dessert.

This sugar free pound cake also freezes well.

*will also bake in three mini-loaf pans, reduce baking time to about 30-40 minutes, or until toothpick pull from center is clean

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5 from 4 votes
Excerpt Bring a healthy balance and festive vibe to your holiday dessert spread with the delightful addition of this loaf pan cake, sized for smaller celebrations. No added sugar, 214 calories, 13g of fat, 13g of net carbs, and an impressive 85% daily value for vitamin D.
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Sugar-Free Loaf Cake with Cranberry Ginger Chia Sauce
Prep Time
15 mins
Cook Time
55 mins
Total Time
1 hr 10 mins
 

Bring a healthy balance and festive vibe to your holiday dessert spread with the delightful addition of this loaf pan cake, sized for smaller celebrations. No added sugar,  214 calories, 13g of fat,13g of net carbs, and an impressive 85% daily value for vitamin D.

Course: Dessert
Keyword: cake, chirstmas, cranberry, holiday, sugar-free
Servings: 8 serving
Ingredients
Cake:
  • 8 oz unsalted butter room temperature
  • 2 cups granulated sugar substitute with 1:1 measuring equivalency I used Puyre Granulated Stevia Blend
  • 1/3 cup Eggland’s Best liquid egg whites from carton
  • 2 2/3 cups all-purpose flour or gluten-free baking blend
  • 2 ½ tsp baking powder
  • ½ tsp salt
  • 1 tsp vanilla extract clear if you want cake whiter
  • 12 oz reduced-fat milk 1%, room temperature
Sauce:
  • 6 oz fresh cranberries rinsed
  • 1 cup 100% cranberry juice
  • ½ cup granulated sugar substitute with 1:1 measuring equivalency
  • 1 tbsp fresh-grated ginger
  • 2 tbsp white chia seeds
Instructions
  1. Preheat oven to 335ºF and 9” x 5” loaf pan with baking spray.
  2. Combine milk, oil & vanilla; set aside
  3. Combine flour, baking powder & salt; set aside
  4. In large bowl (or stand mixer), add butter and cream until smooth. Sprinkle in sugar substitute, mix together for several minutes until smooth.
  5. Drizzle in room temperature egg whites to butter mixture, mixing on low.
  6. Add in 1/2 of dry ingredients to the egg white/butter mixture, mix on low until just combined. Then add remaining liquid and dry ingredients and mix until everything well combined and smooth.

  7. Add batter into prepared loaf and bake at 335º F for 50 – 55 minutes or until a toothpick pulls clean from center. If baking mini loaves, start checking them with a toothpick at 30-35 minutes, or when they look set and lightly golden ..

Sauce:

  1. While cake is baking, prepare sauce. Add cranberries, juice, ginger, chia seeds and sugar substitute to medium sauce pan and stir frequently over medium heat until bubbling. After that reduce temp to medium low and simmer for about 15 minutes, or until thickened some and cranberries have popped. Use fork to help mash up cranberries some, if needed. Store leftovers in fridge for up to 5 days.

Recipe Notes

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

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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!

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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.