Over the last few years, protein has become increasingly important to me.

As a former vegetarian/occasional vegan/occasional pescatarian, for nearly a decade I was hounded about not getting enough protein. I would so often roll my eyes when asked how I get my protein and proclaim, “broccoli has protein!”

Well, fast-forward about 5 years and even more years of struggling with my hormones, and I realize that I was seriously protein and iron deficient then, and am still trying to catch up.

I didn’t know it then but I was severally anemic, I wasn’t getting the amino acids my body craved, and my lack in protein would lead me to blood sugar imbalances, verging on pre-diabetic.

 

Now I know that getting about 30 grams of protein at each meal/snack is how my body feels its best, and helps keep me away from the dangerous pre-diabetic cliff.

 

A diet high in carbohydrates was not the best for my body, and while, yes, you can get protein as a vegetarian, you have to eat a lot more food to get adequate protein, much of which is derived from carbohydrates.

This wasn’t best for my body. I’m not saying it’s not the right move for your body- it may be! But it wasn’t for mine.

All that to say, eating more protein has been top of my list the last couple of years, and I’ve noticed that I have more muscle than ever before.

And because muscle = longevity, I’m into it!

Protein is pretty easy to come by in meals, but healthy protein rich snacks have left me less excited.

Processed lunch meats and sticks aren’t my jam (even though there are some healthy options), and I don’t often feel like having a hardboiled egg in the afternoon.

So when I saw Organic Olivia share one of her new go-to protein rich snacks on Instagram a few months back, and it looked delicious, I thought I would try it!

This Protein Rich Peanut Buttery Cocoa Puffs recipe is a product of trying her recipe out and modifying it for my personal preferences. Mine is much more like a cereal bowl, hers is a bit more of a yogurt bowl with crunchy toppings.

This recipe packs a solid 22 grams of protein per serving (depending on your type of protein powder) and gives you that sweet and crunchy snack you are craving.

 

Give this Protein Rich Peanut Buttery Cocoa Puffs recipe a try and let me know what you think!!

 

Protein Rich Peanut Buttery Cocoa-Puffs Recipe

Servings- 1 large snack serving

Takes about 5 minutes to make

 

Ingredients

• 1 cup of milk of choice
• 1 tablespoon smooth peanut butter
• 1 teaspoon cacao powder
• 1-2 teaspoons honey
• 1/4 cup cottage cheese
• 1 scoop of protein powder (I used a non-flavored collagen protein powder. If you use one that’s sweetened, decrease the honey.)
• Salt to taste
• 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
• 2 plain Lundberg Rice Cakes (other brands will work but most become soggy faster than this brand, it holds up the best)

 

 

Instructions

1. In a cereal bowl, add the milk, peanut butter, cacao powder, and honey. Whisk until the peanut butter is well incorporated.
2. Add the cottage cheese, protein powder, salt and cinnamon to the bowl and mix.
3. Crunch up the rice cakes with your hands until they are the size you want as your “cereal”. Add them to the bowl and mix.
4. Enjoy!

 

XO,

Kelsey