Banana, protein and oat pancakes

Pancakes for me are the epitome of a lazy Sunday. Whipping up a batch of pancakes for a long lazy start to the day. And there has to be maple syrup.

But they aren’t too great for the health conscious eaters and whilst the odd pancake binge isn’t going to do anyone any harm, it’s perhaps not a weekly staple.

Unless that is… they are these...

Made with oats and protein powder, rather than the usual flour and butter based pancakes. They are quite sweet but they work equally well with savoury and sweet toppings – my personal favourite are oodles of berries and natural yoghurt or the classic (lean) bacon, banana and a touch of maple syrup.

Pumpkin protein pancakes

Pancakes have become somewhat of a Sunday tradition for me and The Boy. Not just out-the-packet pre-made stuff, but delicious home made ones. Plus ones that are full of protein and not made with flour. 

The latest creation are pumpkin based protein pancakes. 

Banana and vanilla protein flapjacks

Healthy snacking is hard, especially when you are working in an office, where it is the norm for colleagues to bring in tasty and tempting treats. 

Whilst everyone is tucking into the biccies and pastries, sometimes you fruit slices and ryvita just doesn't seem to be fulfilling your snacking needs! 

Homemade flapjacks do make a great snack, and are so easy, so if you are looking for a great snack recipe, try these banana and vanilla protein flapjacks. 

Cherry and coconut protein healthy oat flapjacks

I must admit it has been a while since I did any healthy baking, probably because the Boy has been on deployment and he is the main consumer of my healthy treats. But I had a new man in town staying with me on his trip from Cambodia, my dad. And like the Boy, he likes his food.

I whipped up a batch of flapjacks, experimenting with a new flavour combo. I have experimented with flavours before and the basic mixture of oats, a bit of butter, a bit of milk and an egg. Once you have that you are free to experiment with all sorts of flavours.

Jamie Oliver's breakfast/brunch popover

If like me you had been watching Jamie Oliver’s latest “superfood” cooking show, you would have seen a tasty breakfast treat called “popovers”. I made these for Sunday brunch for The Boy and me. With the surprising ingredient of cottage cheese (which is one of his favourites) I knew this would go down a treat.

I added ham, red onion and tomatoes in to mine (and would have added spring onion if I had any), but you can add whatever veggies, cheese and meats you might have going spare – a great way actually to use left overs up! 

Chia seed pots - a great on-the-go breakfast or pudding

We all know that breakfast is the most important meal of the day, so this is not a blog post lecturing about this. But even though we all know that, some of us don't manage it in the morning thanks to our on the go lifestyle. 

Trying to eat healthy on the go (especially breakfast) is always hard, but these chia seed pots are perfect!!! 

chia seed pots 

The great thing about these is that you can make them up the night before, pop them in the fridge and grab then and go in the morning. I even managed to eat one of these on a bus. No problem! Although I try my best to not eat at the desk, this is also perfect when you have too! 

A completely fuss-free but 100% healthy breakfast on the go...

No bake, raw, almond butter flapjack bites

I'm a serial grazer - I snack all throughout the day. Like a sheep. 

Whilst snacking keeps you topped up and going until your next meal, it is important to snack right! That means no to sugary biscuits. Instead, say yes to homemade snacks. Like these....

No bake, raw, almond butter flapjack bites :-) 

Quick and easy no-bake flapjack protein bars

It is the new year and I am on a health kick! One thing that is important when you are doing your best to be good, is ensure that you have lots of healthy snacks laying around so you won't be tempted by the sugar devil. 

I know that snacks can be the clean eating down fall, as they are often eaten on the go and need to be quick and fuss free. Carrots and hummus is all well and good, but there isn't always the time and place for that. 

delicious and healthy 

Quinoa porridge - tasty breakfast option

I love a good breakfast or brunch, and no time have I made the most of this than whilst I was on my trip to the amazing South Africa. Pretty much most hotels we stayed in laid out a breakfast feast of cold meats, cheese, pastries, juices, savoury nibbles, breads plus all the cooked breakfasts you need from a fry up to eggs Benedict.

But now I am back home, the fun has to stop. Firstly I don’t have time to knock this up in the morning and secondly, I was eating so much, by the end of the three weeks, I had actually had enough of pancakes and pastries! Shock horror.

fresh quinoa porridge

So now I am back to cooking nutritious, fuelling yet tasty breakfasts for the morning rush! One great recipe I love for breakfast, is quinoa porridge.

Home-made vanilla and date protein flapjacks

The other day I was flicking through an old copy of “muscle and fitness” that the Boy had left laying around and stumbled across a “protein flapjack” recipe.

We have tried making flapjacks once but it was a disaster (not as bad as the infamous “salmon cookies”) as they had no ‘stick’ to them and crumbled into a thousand pieces so resembled a granola rather than a flapjack.  Tasty but it weren’t a flapjack.

serve with tea