Fitness Kick Start: Protein Power.
It’s no secret that Mr. How Sweet loves his protein and can consume an entire cow in one sitting.
And honestly, I am not sure if that is an exaggeration or not.
But what about little ole’ me? While I love a delicious filet, I don’t want meat 5 times a day like my husband. Sometimes, I just don’t want it at all. And somewhere, far away on the other side of a computer screen, Mr. How Sweet’s heart just broke into a million pieces.
I enjoy eating protein with each meal. Sure, sometimes I want to eat a bucket of cereal and 16 Snickers bars, but I regret it 15 minutes later when I am hungry again.
Protein gives me the staying power I need – many times it keeps me from gnawing my arm off.
I don’t always have time to make some form of meat or seafood, so many weekends I will prep some chicken, shrimp, or fish ahead of time to make up some of my meals.
We all know the basics – chicken, tuna, jerky, cottage cheese. . .boring, boring, and boring.
How can you spice it up a bit? Here are some of my favorites.
–Greek yogurt with honey, walnuts, and sliced bananas.
-100% whole wheat toast with goat cheese, cottage cheese or greek yogurt, topped with figs and honey.
-Mini Pizzas: a whole grain english muffin or tortilla, topped with a smidge of tomato sauce and low-fat cheese. Meat is optional for more protein.
-Salads: No, not of the veggie variety. Homemade chicken, tuna, egg, or shrimp salads made with greek yogurt, mustard, and seasonings. You could also add some veggies, but you won’t find me doing that since the last thing I want to bite down on is a chunk of celery.
-Shakes: I love protein powder for this reason – I can have a refreshing smoothie packed with 25+ grams of protein. My favorite add-in’s are frozen bananas, peanut butter, spinach, vanilla extract, and coconut.
-Homemade trail mix with assorted nuts, chocolate, and dried fruit.
-Giant yogurt bowls.
-100% whole wheat tortilla stuffed with chicken, low-fat refried or black beans, low-fat cheese, and homemade guacamole.
-100% whole wheat toast or tortillas with hummus, avocado, and bacon. Yes people, bacon has protein.
-Roasted chickpeas.
-2 eggs, over easy or scrambled, topped with organic baked beans.
-100% whole wheat mini bagels topped with low-fat cream cheese, smoked salmon and capers.
What are some of your favorites?
No veggies allowed.
27 Comments on “Fitness Kick Start: Protein Power.”
I got full just reading this :) Crazy that I used to hate chickpeas. I have a new found love for beans!
Hands down homemade traill mix. We will mix almonds (or peanuts) with raisins and small bits of beef jerkey and sometimes we will add in some coconut! The sweet salty mix makes me happy!!! I loved some your ideas above too! Esepcially the mini pizzas!!
I love lentils- in just about everything and anything! I’m cooking up a mean dahl tonight!
I also love making protein cookies a la susan- they have been a good treat on days when I’m craving sweets
ice cold coconut milk w/ my whey protein, bananas, pb and cocoa. a fabulous way to start the day!
Thanks for the vegetarian protein ideas!!! I’m bad about getting enough protein…I’m just a carb lovah :-)
Haha, I don’t even think you want to get me started!! I do love my huge shakes though!
Thanks for those ideas! I’m just starting to cut back on meat intake a bit and love getting new ideas! Can I ask what protein powder you use in your shakes?
My favorite is BSN Lean Dessert and Syntha 6 when using a blender. I also like Optimum Nutrition 100% Whey in Chocolate because it just mixes with a spoon.
I love lentil and goat cheese salad. Protein, fiber, and filling! Plus, GOAT CHEESE! :)
Beans, beans, beans! (Although sometimes the fiber makes me feel iffy…the energy certainly does not!)
Greek yogurt used to be my favourite FAVOURITE THING…until I was discovered to have a dairy intolerance 2 weeks ago. My heart is still broken. :'(
PEANUT BUTTER. PEANUT BUTTER. Peanut butter on TOAST..grapes dipped in peanut butter..peanut butter in my morning oatmeal..and of course, peanut butter off a spoon ;)
I also love bread. Maybe it has protein? I hope so.
Almonds too!
I like to make egg cups. Cook up the vegetables (or not!!) of your choice, or whatever breakfast meat you like, cheese, whatever. Beat up some eggs and pour into muffin tins along with whatever fillings you chose (grease them if they’re not non-stick). Bake at 350 for about 20 minutes or until a toothpick inserted comes out clean. Good for breakfast, post-workout, snack (especially if you use the mini muffin tins). I’ve made them with all egg whites too. Yum.
Greek yogurt is certainly a fav! I just had a can of vegetarian baked beans, too. YUMMMM!
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i have absolutely no biz commenting on this post. at all! LOL
other than to tell you what your friendship means to me and that i am truly blessed and grateful for you to have come in my life. I have been thinking about how much you have given me lately and I am just in awe.
Thank you!!!! and have a lovely protein packed night!
xoxo
smoothies with a banana and protein powder. simple and so filling.
These are great ideas!! I think I would love the toast with goat cheese, figs and honey!!! I am always looking for ways to add protein to my diet without meat.
Thank you thank you THANK YOU! I’ve been looking for some ways to incorporate more protein into my life, now that I’ve started the 30 Day Shred and trying to build muscle mass. I’ll definitely be seeing a lot of these meals on my menu soon! :D:D
Wei-Wei
Great post as usual.
I like mixing cottage cheese with my oatmeal for added protein or eating plain tuna with whole wheat crackers for an afternoon snack.
My favourite has to be big yogurt bowls with cereal, banana, granola, maybe a bit of chocolate (!), honey.
I think i get enough protein in as we usually cook chicken or red meat. Getting the bf to eat a veggie meal is a task I hate to tackle!
I love your attitude to veggies, I actually hate celery and can’t imagine anything worse than this (maybe except fresh coriander eww!)
I agree- protein is so important for staying power, and it’s especially important now that I don’t eat meat, to make sure it’s there every meal if I’m not eating fish!
I love greek yogurt for extra protein, beans/legumes, tofu and tempeh and EGGS!
I really don’t like raw veggies, either- EPSPECIALLY celery. Yuck.
xo
K
haha, no veggies, so what about bean?!
I love Greek yogurt with granola. I also LOVE a spoonful of almond butter (with bananas….is fruit ok?!). Oh, and lately i’ve been really into tempeh!! Who knew it was so good? I mean I do marinade the tempeh in a bunch of sodium (aka soy sauce) but hey, it’s still pretty healthy!
Nick used to be a major carnivore, but since living with me he has cut down, because he has no choice. Muahaha. We also eat a TON of eggs and egg whites. I add nutritional yeast to mind (lots of protein power!).
sometimes you don’t want protein at all? that statement makes no sense. Is that Greek or French? That wasn’t English.
Here are some other ideas to get more protein:
eat a slice of roast beef
eat a chicken breast
eat some turkey
eat a t-bone
eat a t-bone w/ a side of chicken breast
Great ideas! I want the toast with goat cheese figs and honey. Yummmmm. My fav is a grilled tofu, chickpeas, BBQ sauce and banana papper wrap. Grilled. Delish!!!!!
Love all the protein ideas…especially since veggies aren’t allowed. :D I think the mini bagel pizza one is my favorite. That sounds good to me right now.
The only meat that I’m always in the mood for is steak, and I barely ever get to have it. So usually I stick to greek yogurt or tuna mixed with organic deli mustard. I also use whey protein in my smoothies.
Great tips!
I love eggs, so that’s usually my go to snack. I scramble some and throw them in a tortilla with some salsa or beans or I just eat a plain fried egg with toast. I don’t know why I don’t have mini pizzas more often. I just remembered I bought some English muffins too. Snack for today!
Have you tried tofu specially made to taste like meat? BRILLIANT!
Also frittata! Jam packed with protein it is!
Humus <3 BEETROOT HUMUS! ON HOT TOAST WITH BUTTER! TRY IT! GOOOOOOOOD STOOF!