5 High-Protein Holiday Recipes For Atheletes to Stay Fit This Season

The holidays can be a trying time for those of us who are serious about training.

As an athlete, you more than likely have no intention of letting the plethora of saturated fats and empty carbs associated with holiday feasts throw you off track and deter you from achieving your goals, and for that, we salute you.

Being dedicated to your goals and wanting to look and feel your best doesn’t mean you can’t enjoy some of the wonderful flavors associated with holiday eating.

In fact, some of the most famous holiday dishes can be turned into protein-packed power meals if prepared correctly.

Enjoy one of these five amazing meals that will not only help you stay fit, but will also satisfy your cravings for all of those traditional holiday delicacies.

1. Pumpkin Protein Pancakes

Ingredients

1/2 scoop Natural Raw Protein Vanilla
1 whole egg + 1 egg white
1/4 cup organic canned pumpkin
1 tbsp ground flax seed
1/4 tsp cinnamon
1/4 tsp pumpkin pie spice
1/4 tsp stevia
1/4 tsp baking powder

Directions

Mix all the ingredients in a medium-sized bowl until smooth.
Spray a griddle or skillet with non-stick cooking spray and heat over medium-high heat.
Pour two dollops of batter onto your cooking surface; these should be 4-5 inches in circumference. Cook for 90 seconds or until the top starts to bubble.
Continue cooking for 30-60 seconds, or until the pancake is completely cooked through.
Serve warm and enjoy.

2. Chocolate Protein Bars

Ingredients

1 cup of oat flour
¼ cup almond flour
1 scoop Vanilla Raw Protein
1 scoop Chocolate Raw Protein
3 tablespoons unsweetened dark cocoa powder
½ teaspoon baking soda
¼ teaspoon salt
1 egg
2 tablespoons liquid egg whites (or 2 whites)
¼ cup NuNaturals stevia baking blend
⅓ cup unsweetened applesauce
¼ cup plain Greek yogurt
¼ cup almond milk

Directions

Preheat oven to 350 degrees, grease an 8 x 8 baking dish.
Combine the salt in a large bowl, and set it aside.
Combine the eggs and stevia in a medium bowl, then whisk until fully incorporated.
Add remaining wet ingredients to the medium bowl and whisk together.
Pour wet ingredients into dry ingredients and add in chocolate chips and walnuts if using.
Pour the batter into the baking dish and bake for 20-25 minutes, until a toothpick inserted comes out clean.
Let cool completely in the pan and then cut into 9 squares, wrap individually, and store in the refrigerator.

3. Protein Iced Coffee

Ingredients

3/4 cup unsweetened vanilla almond milk, regular skim milk, or fat-free milk
3 scoops Natural Raw Vanilla Protein
1 ½ tsp instant coffee granules
⅛ tsp vanilla extract
1 no-calorie sweetener packet
1 ¼ cup crushed ice

Directions

Combine all ingredients and ice in a blender.
Blend at the highest speed.
Blend until consistency is frothy, smooth, and free of lumps.
Serve and enjoy chilled.

4. Pumpkin Protein Cheesecake Ice Cream

Ingredients

1 cup regular skim milk or nonfat milk
2 scoops Natural Raw Vanilla Protein
½ cup low-fat cottage cheese
½ cup plain low-fat Greek yogurt
1 Tbsp sugar-free vanilla syrup
½ cup canned pumpkin puree
1 tsp cinnamon
½ tsp pumpkin pie spice

Directions

Combine all ingredients in a blender.
Blend at highest speed.
Blend ingredients until smooth and free of lumps.
Pour mixture into ice cream maker and freeze according to your machine’s instructions.
Serve and enjoy.