Introduction
I concocted a delicious, protein-rich chocolate peanut butter protein bowl the other day. As I do with anything cool and wellness-y, I shared it to IG Stories. Almost immediately, I received DMs requesting the recipe, so here it is!
Recent studies show that upping protein intake without any additional lifestyle changes can aid in weight loss for women. Even if you are not doing any extra movement or workouts, which is perfect for those of us that may be struggling to accommodate a fitness routine. For more information, read this article published by MindBodyGreen.
Most of the bodybuilding community are quick to suggest protein shakes for insuring adequate protein intake. But sometimes it’s nice to have something with a bit more substance to consume rather than something you slurp down in a few gulps.
A fun hack I’ve discovered is using protein powder mixed into a yogurt base. It takes a bit of extra work to integrate the powder fully and avoid powdery clumps, but the result is a yummy, almost icing-like consistency that could be mistaken for a dessert.
You can garnish your protein-enriched yogurt with your favorite toppings just as you’d include in your protein shakes, or on an ice cream sundae if you’re taking the dessert route. I like adding a dollop of natural organic peanut butter to top off my chocolate-flavored protein yogurt bowls.
Getting enough protein in your diet is super important, and not just for building muscle or losing weight. Consuming enough protein, especially at the start of the day, is essential for hormone health and maintaining healthy skin and nails.
Full recipe below. This post contains affiliate links.
A New Recipe is Born
They say that “necessity is the mother of invention,” and truer words have never been spoken. Like most wellness girlies I have a go-to smoothie recipe that I have been using for years, occasionally modifying with buzzy new superfood ingredients but keeping the core components the same. I make sure that each of my smoothies is Kelly LeVeque-approved and include some element of protein, fat, fiber and fruit. However, on this fateful day, I was out of my favorite organic berries.
Bereft of berries, I decided to get creative with what I had. Greek yogurt is a staple in my fridge due to the high protein content and would provide protein and some healthy fats (I usually go for the 5% or 2%). I had two chocolate-flavored protein powders (more on that below) and decided to use a bit of elbow grease to incorporate them into the yogurt. The effort was well worth it, resulting in a delightfully fluffy, sweet-but-bitter, protein-packed concoction.
The Power of Powders
For the protein powder, I used the Kroma Wellness Cacao Banana Protein Powder. I used 2 tablespoons which came out to about 6 grams of protein. This protein powder uses protein from the Chocho plant (Lupinus mutabilis), which grows in the high Andes and produces a bean that is 54% protein by weight.
The chocolate flavor in our bowl comes from the cacao. According to the packaging, “cacao is a powerful antioxidant that can help boost immunity and promote good bacteria growth in the gut. It is also know to improve cognitive function and support feelings of joy.” Woo hoo!
I have an affiliate relationship with Kroma Wellness, which produces a number of amazing wellness products such as its iconic 5 Day Reset. Use code AZEEZAH15 for 15% off all Kroma Wellness products sitewide.
For more chocolate-y goodness, I used the Sakara Metabolism Super Powder. One scoop of this contains 3 grams of protein. The packaging states that the powder “contains potent plant ingredients that fire up the metabolism, enhance energy, and support healthy blood sugar levels, reducing cravings.” Truly a super powder, the ingredients also “decrease bloat and puffiness but flushing out excess water retention.” First-time customers save 20% on Sakara sitewide with my exclusive code XOAZEEZAH.
You Choose Your Yogurt
As a base, I used Fage Greek yogurt, but you can use whatever yogurt you have handy. For a vegan bowl, use plant based yogurt, but keep an eye on the protein content. Most of the protein in this protein bowl recipe comes from the yogurt. 1 cup of Fage yogurt contains 20 grams of protein.
Yogurt is a fermented food. Using any type of yogurt will boost the benefits of this protein bowl recipe by adding gut-healthy bacteria.
Add Ons
For added texture, fiber, and protein benefits, I added a teaspoon of milled flax. I love flax seed as a way to incorporate healthy omega oils.
You can add as much sweetener as you like though I try to go easy on the sweeteners in the morning in consideration of my blood glucose levels. I added a nice drizzle of honey on top, along with a healthy dollop of organic, sugar free creamy peanut butter. I didn’t add this time, but next time, I will be testing out a chopped medjool date instead of the honey.
The Recipe
AuthorAzeezah GoodwinCategoryBreakfast RecipesDifficultyBeginnerThis recipe is a tasty way to start your day with over 30 grams of protein. Starting your day with adequate protein is an important factor for managing your blood sugar and overall hormone health. This doesn’t require any extra dishes or heating to prepare, so its a yummy, efficient way to have a nice meal before starting your day.
In a bowl, add 1 cup of yogurt.
Add dry ingredients (Protein powder, milled flax seed and Metabolism powder) to yogurt and mix. Incorporate thoroughly to avoid clumps.
Place a dollop of peanut butter on top of mixture.
Drizzle with honey or chopped medjool dates to taste.
Additional notes:
Add more yogurt if you like a creamier consistency.
Plant based yogurts tend to have less protein than dairy yogurts so check your nutritional information to get an accurate sense of total grams of protein.
Ingredients
Directions
In a bowl, add 1 cup of yogurt.
Add dry ingredients (Protein powder, milled flax seed and Metabolism powder) to yogurt and mix. Incorporate thoroughly to avoid clumps.
Place a dollop of peanut butter on top of mixture.
Drizzle with honey or chopped medjool dates to taste.
Additional notes:
Add more yogurt if you like a creamier consistency.
Plant based yogurts tend to have less protein than dairy yogurts so check your nutritional information to get an accurate sense of total grams of protein.
Notes
If you try this protein bowl recipe, let me know what you think! Tag @laviedezee on IG and I’ll show it some love 💗.
For more La Vie de Zee recipes, click here.
