One of the first things people ask when they find out you eat a vegan or plant-based diet is "where do you get your protein?". This question gets irritating after a while because people who eat this way are perfectly capable of consuming the recommended amount of protein needed on a daily basis by eating a wide variety of natural and wholesome food. The outdated notion that vegans are malnourished and weak with poor fitness levels because of inadequate protein consumption is completely misguided; there are plenty of vegan athletes with strong, healthy bodies, such as Brendan Brazier (author of the 'Thrive' series of books) - these people are clearly not lacking in the ability to develop and maintain a toned and muscular physique. However, whilst I do think it's entirely possible to get enough protein by eating a diet rich in whole foods, such as legumes, quinoa, nuts, seeds and tofu/tempeh, sometimes people just want the extra boost that protein powder can contribute, whether it's to gain weight healthily without having to eat a large volume of food or simply to aid in the recovery process between workouts. Everyone has their own opinion of protein powder but I personally think that if it's a natural plant-based powder with no added nasties then it's a great addition to a balanced diet.
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I've been getting back into lifting weights recently so I've decided to increase my protein intake due to the extra stress that's being placed on my body; adding protein powder to meals such as pancakes and porridge/oatmeal is a great way to get that extra nutrition because you don't even notice it's there! This basic recipe contains over 20g of protein (this will vary depending on which powder you use) and if you add a superfood powder to it then you're getting heaps of nutrients as well! I added mesquite powder to the pancakes pictured and they were absolutely incredible so I definitely recommend trying that; I also topped mine with cinnamon poached apple which is a super simple yet extremely delicious addition to any breakfast food - you can even eat it on its own as a comforting snack or dessert! The recipe for the apple is below the pancake recipe.
Read more about vegan athletes and their dietary tips here.
Ingredients
Makes 6 - 7 small pancakes
Read more about vegan athletes and their dietary tips here.
Gluten-Free Vegan Protein Pancakes
Makes 6 - 7 small pancakes
- 2 flax eggs (2 tbsp ground flaxseed and 6 tbsp water)
- 1/2 cup buckwheat flour
- 1 tbsp natural vegan protein powder (I use raw natural brown rice protein powder - either or this one)
- 1 tbsp superfood powder of choice, e.g. mesquite, lucuma, cacao, maca, carob, acai berry etc. You could use 1 tbsp ground cinnamon instead if you want cinnamon flavoured pancakes
- 1 tsp baking powder
- 1 ripe banana
- 1/2 cup non-dairy milk of choice
- Oil of choice (I use coconut) for cooking
Method
The first thing you need to do is make your flax eggs; to do this simply mix the ground flaxseed and water together in a cup and leave it in the fridge for at least 30 minutes to thicken up.
When your flax eggs are ready you can begin making your pancakes. Firstly, sift the flour, protein powder, superfood powder/ground cinnamon and baking powder into a large mixing bowl and stir it all together. Mash the banana into a pulp (you can leave a few slices to top the pancakes with, if you wish), then add it into the bowl along with the non-dairy milk and flax eggs. Mix well until everything is combined - the consistency should be fairly thick, similar to that of cake mixture.
Heat a small amount of your oil of choice in a frying pan over a medium heat; when the oil has heated up pour about 1/4 cup of the batter into the centre of the pan and spread it out slightly with a spoon, forming a pancake shape. Let it cook for a minute or two, until bubbles start forming on the top, then flip it over and cook it for another minute or so. Repeat with the rest of the mixture, then add your toppings and enjoy!
Cinnamon Poached Apple
Ingredients
Serves 1
Serves 1
- 1 cup of water
- 1 apple, peeled and chopped into small pieces
- 2 tsp ground cinnamon
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
Method
Bring the water to a boil in a small/medium saucepan then add the apple, ground cinnamon and vanilla extract - stir everything together until the apple is coated in the mixture. Bring the liquid back to a boil then reduce the temperature and leave it to simmer. If you're using this as a pancake topping then start cooking your pancakes at this point and top them with the poached apple as soon as they're ready - if you're having the apple on its own then simply let it simmer for 10 - 15 minutes or until it's tender. Once ready, drain the liquid from the pan and serve immediately.
These look absolutely to-die-for. O.O I can't wait to start making some of your pancake recipes once I have all the ingredients.
ReplyI'm in love with your blog and when I saw your instagram post I had to come and see this for myself. It did not disappoint! Thank you so much for sharing, Meghan, you're really an inspiration to me. :)
Bethan xxx (bettymaestrange)
Thank you so much sweetie! I can't wait for you to try the pancakes - if you make some and post a picture to Instagram could you tag me in it so I can see? :) I love seeing people try my recipes!
Awww, that's so lovely of you to say, you're such a sweetheart! I can't believe I'm an inspiration to you, that's so flattering and it means the world to me :)
xxx
All of your pancakes always look so yummy :)!
Replyanyway I think the worst question than : when do you get your protein? is when somebody ask you if you are eating fish because it is not meat, agr so ridiculous :D
Aww, thank you so much! Oh my goodness, that's a bad one too - fish are still living beings so why would we eat them if we're vegan?! xxx