Tag Archives: protein powder

Christmas Cravings | Choco-Cherry Protein Granola #Recipe

Posted on by
16

jennifer fisher thefitfork.com choco cherry protein granola

Deck the halls with bowls of granola, fa-la-la fa-fa-la, la-la-la! Okay, I’ve been getting a little bit crazy with the protein granola over here. But, my family is gobbling it up almost faster than I can make it. In October, I made Smashing Pumpkin Protein Granola and in November I whipped up Gingerbread Cranberry Protein Granola and for December my special mix is Choco-Cherry Protein Granola given extra crunch with almonds and coconut.  Of course, we’ll be enjoying the healthy goodness of these three seasonal flavors all year long and I hope you will too!

jennifer fisher thefitfork.com choco cherry protein granola 1

Choco-Cherry Protein Granola is a delicious treat for the morning; serve with milk or sprinkle on top of Greek yogurt. Think beyond breakfast and enjoy this satiating protein-boost any time of the day or night. I’ve even scarfed this fit granola straight out of the container to conquer my chocolate cravings!

jennifer fisher granola sock monkey

Here’s a great healthy foodie gift for the holidays – scoop granola into a mason jar or cellophane bag and tie up with a festive ribbon.  Sure to be welcomed by friends and family; who wouldn’t literally be fulfilled by this tasteful gesture?!

Choco-Cherry Protein Granola Recipe

  • 8 ounces black cherry juice (or pomegranate juice as substitute)
  • 1/2 cup coconut oil
  • 1/2 cup cocoa powder
  • 2/3 cup chocolate or vanilla protein powder
  • 1/4 teaspoon salt
  • 1 teaspoon liquid stevia concentrate
  • 1 1/2 cup unsweetened shredded coconut
  • 1 1/2 cup raw almond slivers
  • 5 cups old-fashioned rolled oats (GF if needed)
  • 1 cup dried cherries

 

  1. Preheat oven to 325 degrees F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper or Silpat.
  2. In large pot, over medium-low heat, add juice, coconut oil, cocoa powder, protein powder, salt and Stevia liquid. Whisk together until incorporated and smooth and mixture is beginning to bubble (but do not boil).
  3. Remove pot from heat and stir in coconut and almonds. Next add oats, stirring mixture until everything is evenly coated. Note: do NOT add dried cherries; they are mixed in later when granola is done baking.
  4. Spread granola onto prepared baking sheet in an even layer. Bake, stirring every 10 – 15 minutes, until granola is no longer sticky, approximate 35 – 40 minutes. Remove from oven and mix in dried cherries.
  5. Granola will stay fresh, stored in an airtight container, for up to 4 weeks.

Power Up Morning with Chocolate – Strawberry Protein ‘Donut Holes’ Recipe

Posted on by
9

jennifer fisher - thefitfork.com - chocolate strawberry protein donut holes

The Baked Banana Protein Donut Holes were such a hit last week that I just had to play around with another recipe. Hmm, though, what to put in them this time? Well, if you know me, you know that was a no-brainer – chocolate. Please, please give me a chocolate-induced serotonin surge to go along with my runner’s high. If it’s true that “everything’s a little better with chocolate” then these little bite-sized morsels are sure to get your neurotransmitters all a twitter. I think they make you run faster, too!

Friends who follow a gluten-free or Paleo diet get a green light on these miniature munchies; that’s because they’re made with low-carb, gluten-free coconut flour and no sugar. If you don’t have a fancy-schmancy donut hole machine, you can easily substitute mini-muffin tins in the oven. Also, if you don’t want to make strawberry puree (eg: throwing strawberries in a blender), you can use all-natural strawberry applesauce instead.

Since they’re not messy or sticky, some friends and I are planning to toss a couple batches in zip-top bag as one of our “fuel sources” for the American River 50 Mile Run out in California next month. Enjoy!

Chocolate-Strawberry Protein Donut Holes Recipe

  • 1/3 cup liquid egg white
  • 4 ounces strawberry puree (or if lazy, strawberry applesauce)
  • 1 tablespoons almond milk
  • ¼ cup protein powder (I used 3Fuel)
  • 2 tablespoons coconut flour
  • 1 tablespoon unsweetened cocoa powder
  • 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
  • 2 teaspoons Stevia sweetener

In medium bowl, mix together egg whites, strawberries and almond milk.  In another bowl, mix together all the remaining dry ingredients except the powdered sugar. Once well-combined, mix dry ingredients in to “wet” ingredients, stirring well.

Preheat donut hole maker machine and bake according to manufacturer’s instructions (the Bella maker says cook for 5 minutes but I think that’s too much). You can also bake at 350 in the oven using mini muffin tins; bake for approximately 10 minutes or until centers pull clean with a toothpick. While still warm, sprinkle with the powdered sugar. Makes 16.

Nutrition information (per 1 ball) 20 calories, 2g protein, 0.5 sat. fat, 0.0g trans fat, 5mg sodium, 2.5 g total carbs, 0.25g sugar, .75g fiber 

STUFF YOU NEED!

3Fuel is a great protein powder supplement for endurance athletes; there’s some good stuff in there and it’s backed by the latest research on nutrition for sports performance. You can save 10% on 3Fuel Nutritional Shake by using code 3FHUNT at checkout.

Coconut, Acai Berry & Banana Smoothie Recipe with 3Fuel – EatSmart Scale Saves Day

Posted on by
1

P1000427

Are you one of those people who pride themselves on precision, accuracy, and exactness?  If your marathon training plan says run 20 miles, would you be okay running 19.5?  If you’re sharing a cookie, would you measure it down the middle or just snap it in half, risking one side might be bigger? I say, who cares about being perfectly precise, aren’t we just getting too hung up on the details and ruining the delight of the moment. If you scrutinize my blog, you might even find some typos – but I think you still enjoy what I’m saying. Or, so I hope.

But, in some instances, approximating, being imprecise or overly loose-goosey has unfortunate consequences. It don’t like to venture into unfortunate consequence territory, that’s why I’m precise about some things. Of course, I’m not going to weave out of my lane driving, I’m going to take any and all medications as prescribed and I’ll always pay my bills on time.

As far as watching what goes in my mouth, I’ve always been more of an eye-baller. Too much measuring might get in the way of the experience, so I’ve relied on “rules” that say a 3-ounce serving of meat is the size of a deck of cards and grains, potatoes and such should be limited to the size of your fist at each serving. However, there is a margin of error here and the consequences vary depending on the food. Obviously, guess-timating a portion of lettuce is much less risky nutrition-wise that scooping willy-nilly out of a Haagen-Dazs container.

That’s why it can be handy for an “eye-baller” like myself to check-in and set some visual baselines every now and then with a food scale. I really like the EatSmart Precision Digital Kitchen Scale to help me figure out my serving sizes.  I used it this morning to measure out the protein powder for my smoothie (recipe below). If you’ve ever used protein powder, you know how frustrating it can be to lose the scoop!  The instructions to use “one scoop” are never supported by what fraction of a cup that is or how many tablespoons. I’ve always just guessed how much that scoop should be, imagine that! Thankfully, my bag of 3Fuel protein powder did give the number of grams per serving and the EatSmart Scale measures in both pounds (up to 15) and grams (up to 7000) via the push of a button.

P1000423

Tip: If you are weighing your protein powder (or anything else) in another container on the scale, remember to weigh that container separately and then subtract it from the final weight!

Tip: Remember to wipe you scale after measuring each ingredient, especially if you are plopping down meats that might cross contaminate. The EatSmart Scale has a really nice big stainless-steel loading platform that can easily be cleaned up.

Tip: Use an EatSmart Scale to portion servings of nuts, spices, protein powder and even the perfect amount of coffee beans to grind for your morning cup of Joe.  Find out other tips to “eat smart” on the EatSmart Facebook Page or by following the EatSmart Blog

Coconut, Acai Berry and Banana Smoothie Recipe (with 3Fuel)

  • 3 cups almond coconut milk (unsweetened)
  • 2 scoops protein powder of choice (I used 3Fuel Nutrition Shake)
  • 2 tablespoons dried acai powder
  • 1 tablespoon Stevia
  • 1 frozen banana
  • 2 cups ice

Easy to make, just pour all ingredients into a blender and process until smooth. Pour into tall glasses, serves 2.

Nutrition per serving: calories 199, protein 12g, fat 6g, carbs 24g, carbs from sugar 7g, fiber 3.5g, sodium 103mg, calcium 414mg (68% RDA).

Fact: Acai Berry is a macronutrient rich source of resveratrol, polyphenols and flavonoids for increased energy and health.

 Get your supplies here:

 

Save 10% on 3Fuel Nutritional Shake by using code 3FHUNT at checkout.

‘Whey Cool’ Strawberry Sherbet Pie with Protein Powder Recipe

Posted on by
4

Pie has a bad reputation and it’s no wonder why. A small slice of apple pie with a modest ½ cup scoop of vanilla ice cream has 571 calories, 27 grams of fat and scant protein.  Of course, a piece of decadent pie on special occasions isn’t going to ruin results earned from working out, running or whatever you do; but, it just isn’t the right fuel to keep an active person feeling well and going strong.  If you have a sweet tooth (like me) and want a little slice of heaven more frequently than on July 4th and Thanksgiving, whip up my ‘Whey Cool’ Strawberry Sherbet Pie with Protein Powder tonight. Based on a super-easy summer recipe my mom used to make during my childhood in blazing hot Arizona, this no-bake pie is modified for maximum performance with no-sugar added and fat-free products along with a couple scoops of protein powder. Yeah, that’s right, I said protein powder.


‘Whey Cool’ Strawberry Sherbet Pie with Protein Powder Recipe

  • 1 quart no-sugar added sherbet
  • 2 scoops whey protein powder, vanilla flavor
  • 1 8-oz container no-fat, dairy-free whipped topping, thawed
  • 1 pre-made chocolate cookie pie crust (Keebler Ready-Crust Chocolate)
  • ½ cup fat-free chocolate syrup
  • 1 pound fresh strawberries, washed, cored and sliced

Scoop entire container of sherbet into large mixing bowl; let sit for a few minutes to soften a bit. Sprinkle protein powder over sherbet a little at a time (to prevent clumping); mix in by hand or with beaters. After all protein powder is incorporated, fold in whipped topping with spatula until combined. Spoon entire mixture into prepared chocolate cookie crust; freeze for 3 hours or overnight until firm. To serve, cut into 8 slices with knife run through hot water. Top each slice with 2 ounces of strawberries and 1 tablespoon of chocolate syrup. Serves 8.

Nutrition information (per 1/8 of pie with toppings): calories 275, total fat 6g, saturated fat 1g, trans fat 2g, total carbs 48g, sugars 9g, protein 9g.

Note: If you want to clean this recipe up even more, skip the pie crust and just spoon the sherbet mixture into the pie pan.  This removes about 100 calories, 4g of total fat (2 of which are trans fat), 14g carbs and 6g sugars.