Of the foods I have temporarily stopped eating as part of my three-week super-clean eating regimen, I miss most of all chocolate. Like, real chocolate. 70 percent cocoa. Covering nuts. Covering pretzels. Cradling caramel.
Whatever. I miss it, and will be having a piece (or two!) with a big glass of Cabernet on Saturday night - a brief treat before going back to my generally clean eatin'.
Still, this little lean-it-out exercise has left me feeling better and stronger than ever - and it has forced me to get creative with protein powder. Chocolate flavored, of course. I've long used protein powder for my smoothies and in my morning oatmeal, but I have discovered a few other culinary "treats" worth sharing.
I use whey protein powder in the daytime and slower-digesting casein protein powder in the evenings (to keep the metabolism humming). So find a protein powder variety you like, and try these 'recipes':
1. 'Gelato': This is the easiest one. Mix a full scoop, or two, of protein powder with half the amount of water you would typically use for a smoothie. It should be not quite as thick as pudding, but not so watery as milk. Put it in the freezer for 60 minutes or so, and voila! Chocolate gelato - sans all the fat, sugar and high calories.
2. Protein Pancakes: Yep. You can still have pancakes and live the "clean life." This recipe starts out as my morning oatmeal: Take 1/2 cup dry oatmeal, and mix with 1/2 to 3/4 cup of water. Add a scoop of protein powder (vanilla is just as good as chocolate for this purpose), cinnamon to your liking, and mix the "batter" together. In a very lightly greased/sprayed pan over medium-high heat, spoon out the batter into pancakes. Cook just as you would pancakes, until they brown on each side.
You can wrap these up for a quick to-go breakfast, or make a few batches and keep them in the fridge. Or do as I did Sunday: Serve them warm with a small amount of sugar-free syrup and scrambled egg whites with spinach and tomatoes. THAT is a Badass Brunch.
3. "Truffles": Yeah, I know. These are NOT Godiva or Peterbrooke. But Godiva and Peterbrooke don't make six packs, boys and girls. So give this a try. Mix equal parts protein powder, (no sugar added) peanut butter or almond butter and honey (or agave nectar) in a small mixing bowl. Roll into balls, like truffles, and keep in the fridge for a healthy-fat snack.
4. Pudding: Mix 8 ounces of nonfat plain Greek yogurt with one scoop of protein powder, your favorite flavor, and you have creamy pudding!
Coming next week: Monday's Move; and three "Healthy" Foods that aren't so much.
