Vanilla Protein Zoats

Ever heard of zoats? How about protein oats?

Well if you are into oatmeal, but hate the calorie to protein ratio then I have just the recipe for you today!

It might sound little funny but there is a reason for every ingredient in this recipe. And you cannot even tell there are veggies in it!

Why the zoat? So the zucchini adds bulk and vegetable goodness to the oatmeal. The protein powder adds decent protein! So smart huh? And cinnamon is a proven appetite suppressant, but I like oatmeal with cinnamon anyway ;)

Thinking this would be good with apple chunks or raisins!

Also another thought was that you could soak steel cut oats in water overnight then heat them with the zucchini in the microwave in the morning.  I have lots of ideas haha!

Vanilla Protein Zoats

Serves 2

Ingredients
1.00 tsp, Cinnamon, ground
0.50 cup Oats, regular
1 cup Water
0.50 cup, zucchini, includes skin, raw
2.00 scoop, Vanilla Milkshake (I used Premiere Protein in Vanilla Milkshake which is 180 cals and 30 g protein per scoop)
3.00 tsp Stevia, or to taste

Directions:
Finely grate a small zucchini, should be 0.5 cup. Add oats and water. Cook in microwave bowl for 3.5 minutes. Stir in remaining ingredients. Enjoy!

Nutritional stats per serving

Nutrition Facts
Servings 2.0
Amount Per Serving
calories 225
% Daily Value *
Total Fat 4 g	6 %
Saturated Fat 2 g	11 %
Monounsaturated Fat 0 g
Polyunsaturated Fat 0 g
Trans Fat 0 g
Cholesterol 95 mg	32 %
Sodium 153 mg	6 %
Potassium 119 mg	3 %
Total Carbohydrate 16 g	5 %
Dietary Fiber 2 g	8 %
Sugars 5 g
Protein 32 g	64 %
Vitamin A	3 %
Vitamin C	10 %
Calcium	22 %
Iron	7 %
* The Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet, so your values may change depending on your calorie needs. The values here may not be 100% accurate because the recipes have not been professionally evaluated nor have they been evaluated by the U.S. FDA.

Birthday Funfetti Protein Mugcake

It was my husband's birthday this past week. I wanted to treat him with cake but we are prepping for a beach vacation so I knew he would want something he did not have to feel guilt about eating. Besides, I know that I would eat 75% of whatever treat I making because he is not a "sweet eater"... whatever that is! And I have a photo shoot on the beach while we are gone, so I have to be on my best behavior before we leave.





So I racked my brain and came up with this Funfetti Protein Mugcake recipe! I think it was fun and did the trick! He laughed, I ate most of it. We were all happy.

Birthday Funfetti Protein Mugcake

Serves 1



Ingredients:
1.00 egg, Large (You could sub 3 egg whites and save a few calories too!)
0.25 tsp, Baking Powder
1.00 tbsp, Rainbow Sprinkles, divided
0.20 box, Sugar Free, Fat Free, Cheesecake Instant Pudding (Dry Mix)
2.00 tbsp, Milk - Reduced fat, 2% milkfat
1.00 scoop, Vanilla Milkshake Whey Protein (I used Premiere Protein which is 180 cals and 30 g protein per scoop)




Directions:
Grease a small microwave safe ramekin, bowl, or mug with nonstick spray. Mix together the dry ingredients (save half your sprinkles for later). then incorporate the dry ingredients until mixed. Microwave on high approximately 1 minute or until mostly cooked through. Enjoy!

Nutritional stats per serving-

Nutrition Facts
Servings 1.0
Amount Per Serving
calories 345
% Daily Value *
Total Fat 12 g	18 %
Saturated Fat 4 g	20 %
Monounsaturated Fat 2 g
Polyunsaturated Fat 1 g
Trans Fat 0 g
Cholesterol 283 mg	94 %
Sodium 1122 mg	47 %
Potassium 115 mg	3 %
Total Carbohydrate 23 g	8 %
Dietary Fiber 0 g	0 %
Sugars 11 g
Protein 37 g	75 %
Vitamin A	9 %
Vitamin C	0 %
Calcium	30 %
Iron	18 %
* The Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet, so your values may change depending on your calorie needs. The values here may not be 100% accurate because the recipes have not been professionally evaluated nor have they been evaluated by the U.S. FDA.

Lower Calorie Hawaiian Dream Cake in a Jar

One of my friends in the Venus community, Anea came up with the idea of baking my Hawaiian Dream Cake in jars! SO SMART! I knew I had to share it with you.

This recipe is really superb. And even after 2 years, is still my most popular recipe EVER. It has been pinned on Pinterest over twenty thousand times. MIND BLOWN.



So here is how you do it....

Lower Calorie Hawaiian Dream Cake in a jar

Serves 13

• 1 box (18.5 oz) of white cake mix
• 1 can (12 oz) Fresca (or Diet 7up or Sprite Zero)
• 1 can (15 oz) of mandarin oranges (in Splenda)
• 1 box (1 oz) of Sugar Free Jello Banana Cream Pudding Mix
• 1 can (20 oz) crushed pineapple (in juice)
• 8 oz container of sugar free cool whip, thawed
• 3 tbsp unsweetened shredded coconut
• 1/4 cup chopped pecans
• 13 maraschino cherries
• 13 - 8 oz short jars and lids

What you do:

Preheat oven to 350F. Lightly spray the jars with cooking spray. Mix cake mix and fresca until just blended and pour into jars, filling them about a third to halfway full. Cook for apprx 15-17 minutes until toothpick comes out clean from center. Remove from oven. Immediately screw on the lids so the jars will seal. (These sealed cakes will last up to a month!)

When ready to serve the cakes, mix undrained can of oranges and pudding mix. Pour over cakes evenly. Drain pineapple, then evenly pour over cake. Top with container of cool whip. Lightly toast coconut and pecans in oven for about 5 minutes. Pour over cakes. Decorate with cherries on top and enjoy!

Nutritional Facts per serving:

13 servings

• 254 cals
• 47 g carbs
• 7 g fat
• 1.4 g protein

Thanks for the fabulous idea Anea! 

Y'all she also suggested these jars would be amazing for the BEST Protein Brownie EVER recipe! Hummm... I see a very large need for jars in my future! 

Below is Anea's Halloween themed Chocolate Almond Protein Truffles! We were brainstorming that these would be good in a peppermint-chocolate combo, peanut butter-chocolate, coconut-chocolate, or even a pumpkin-vanilla combination!

Chocolate Almond Protein Truffles

Yummmm truffles. Like Ferrero Rocher... but with less calories and more protein! I think they might be better!

This is what I do when I am out of town and lazing around on a Sunday morning. Luckily my mother-in-law Ana is not only an amazing tamale maker, but she is also one of the best bakers around. She always has all the things I need stocked and ready to go! Best mother-in-law EVER!

These are really, really good. And I am thinking they are a perfect post-workout snack. Or something to take to a holiday party. Both my kids approved. Nobody will know they are not a bajillion calories!!!

Chocolate Almond Protein Truffles

Makes 8

Ingredients:
2 tbsp oats, ground into oat flour
1 tbsp cocoa powder
1 scoop chocolate protein powder (I used Vega Chocolate and Greens)
4 tbsp brewed coffee
1 packet truvia (or 2 tsp non-caloric sweetener of choice)
1/8 tsp almond extract
1 cube almond bark (~3 oz)
2 tbsp almonds

Directions:
Mixed oats, cocoa powder, and protein powder. Stir in brewed coffee, truvia, and almond extract. The mixture should resemble damp soil. If they are not staying together, add 1 tbsp of coffee at a time until they will hold. Form into approx 8 walnut sized balls.

Melt almond bark in a small microwave safe plate in the microwave; it took mine approx 45 seconds to melt, stirring halfway. Spread almonds onto a small plate. Drop a truffle ball into the melted almond bark using a spoon to lightly coat the ball with the almond bark. (It will not completely coat it, more like a drizzle across the top.) Immediately roll the truffle in the almonds then set aside to dry. Repeat with the rest of the truffles. Enjoy!

Nutritional Stats

Per truffle

Nutrition Facts
Servings 8.0
Amount Per Serving
calories 69
% Daily Value *
Total Fat 4 g	5 %
Saturated Fat 1 g	7 %
Monounsaturated Fat 1 g
Polyunsaturated Fat 0 g
Trans Fat 0 g
Cholesterol 1 mg	0 %
Sodium 23 mg	1 %
Potassium 40 mg	1 %
Total Carbohydrate 6 g	2 %
Dietary Fiber 1 g	3 %
Sugars 4 g
Protein 4 g	7 %
Vitamin A	0 %
Vitamin C	0 %
Calcium	3 %
Iron	5 %
* The Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet, so your values may change depending on your calorie needs. The values here may not be 100% accurate because the recipes have not been professionally evaluated nor have they been evaluated by the U.S. FDA.