30 day #makefatcry challengeBreakfast foods are my FAVORITE (comment below if this is you, too)!
At breakfast, I’m looking for a good balance of nutrients to carry me through the day, keep my energy stable, and ensure my metabolism is functioning optimally for fat burning and good health.
In the morning, your body is looking for energy and glucose after going through its stored glycogen while you slept, and it needs the right fuel to replenish.
So I make a point to get some fiber, complex or simple carbs, healthy fat and protein – which you can do in a shake or smoothie, with eggs and greens and a side of toast or sweet potatoes, by whipping up some protein pancakes, or with today’s new recipe that I’ve been working on perfecting:
Superfood Protein Cinnamon Spice Breakfast Bars
Not only is the texture of these cake-like bars moist and delicious, the superfoods I’ve included in this recipe will really set you up to feel amazing all day long. They’re gluten free and dairy free, and low on the glycemic index (pro tip! use medium ripe bananas to keep the sugar levels down).
Check out some of the benefits:
Bananas are high in fiber and minerals, a great source of antioxidants, and are easily digestible carbohydrates that add sweetness in all the right ways.
Almonds are one of the #1 food sources of Vitamin E. They are also rich in healthy fat, protein, fiber, and magnesium. (Did you know magnesium is involved in over 300 bodily functions, including blood sugar control? Make sure you get yours!)
Cacao contains an abundance of antioxidants, fiber, magnesium, essential fatty acids, manganese, iron, copper, zinc, sulfur, and calcium – to name a few.
Ginger is a fabulous source of magnesium, B6, copper, and antioxidants. It has anti-inflammatory properties, protects against motion sickness and/or nausea, and helps boost your immune system.
Cinnamon helps lower blood cholesterol, helps regulate blood sugar (which helps with cravings), can alleviate headache and migraine symptoms, and boosts both cognitive function and memory.
I love getting creative with recipes like this one that you can have on hand to satisfy all your nutrients needs – and I’m looking forward to hearing how you like it!
Superfood Protein Cinnamon Spice Breakfast Bars
You will need: food processor, measuring cups and spoons, spatula, baking dish
Yield: 9 Bars – Serving Size 1 bar
5 bananas
1 cup almond butter
½ cup vanilla protein powder
½ cup dried fruit
½ cup unsweetened coconut flakes
¼ cup cacao nibs
2 teaspoon vanilla
½ teaspoon cinnamon
½ teaspoon ground ginger
¼ teaspoon allspice
¼ tsp salt (optional)
Toppings:
1/3 cup pecans, chopped
1/4 cup cacao nibs
1/4 cup unsweetened coconut flakes
1. Preheat oven to 350.
2. Add bananas and almond butter to food processor and blend til smooth.
3. Add in protein powder, spices, and salt, and blend together.
4. Add dried fruit and cacao nibs and pulse several times until combined.
5. Transfer to a 9×9″ baking dish, pre-coated with olive oil.
6. Add toppings.
7. Bake for 18-22 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted comes out clean.
8. Cool for 10 minutes and cut into bars.
Want more of these superfoods in your life? Here are some other awesome Recipes from the blog that you’ll enjoy:
Banana + Cacao = Chocolate Nice Cream
Banana + Cacao = Peppermint Chip Smoothie
Banana + Cacao + Almond Butter = Superfood Chocolate Protein Energy Bars
Almond + Cacao = Raw Energy Bars
Almond + Cinnamon = Raw Cinnamon Bun Bites
Ginger + Cinnamon = Gluten-free Gingerbread Protein Pancakes
Looking forward to hearing from you today ROCKSTAR! Check in and let me know if you’re going to try this recipe – and be sure to tag me in your food photos on Facebook and Instagram!
- Crozier, Stephen J., et al. “Cacao seeds are a ‘Super Fruit’: A comparative analysis of various fruit powders and products.” Chemistry Central Journal. February 7, 2011. Web. https://ccj.springeropen.com/articles/10.1186/1752-153X-5-5
- D’Elia, L, et al. “Potassium intake, stroke, and cardiovascular disease a meta-analysis of prospective studies.” US National Library of Medicine. March 8, 2011. Web. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21371638
- Holt, S.H.A., et al. “The effects of high-carbohydrate vs high-fat breakfasts on feelings of fullness and alertness, and subsequent food intake.” International Journal of Food Sciences and Nutrition. 1999. Web. http://www.colorado.edu/intphys/Class/IPHY3700_Greene/pdfs/atkins/Holt.pdf
- Ma, Yunsheng, et al. “Association between Eating Patterns and Obesity in a Free-living US Adult Population.” American Journal of Epidemiology. July 1, 2003. Web. https://academic.oup.com/aje/article/158/1/85/174075/Association-between-Eating-Patterns-and-Obesity-in
- National Institutes of Health. “Magnesium Fact Sheet for Health Professionals.” U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Web. https://ods.od.nih.gov/factsheets/Magnesium-HealthProfessional/
- Rao, Pasupuleti Visweswara, et al. “Cinnamon: A Multifaceted Medicinal Plant.”US National Library of Medicine. April 10, 2014. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4003790/