And then there are those that recreate the category by taking a favorite food and bring it to life in liquid form. Enter your new favorite healthy snack: the pumpkin pie protein shake.

Why It’s a Healthy Recipe

Pumpkin is an underrated nutrition powerhouse. It’s packed with fiber, cancer-fighting carotenoids, and more potassium than a banana.

This version of pumpkin pie takes your favorite flavors, removes the heavy cream and loads of sugar, and creates the protein-packed version in a glass.

And while the flavor is great, it’s the added benefits that make it worth your while. Pumpkin is an underrated nutrition powerhouse. It’s packed with fiber, cancer-fighting carotenoids, and more potassium than a banana.

This is a perfect post-workout shake, providing natural carbohydrates to refuel your energy, protein to build your muscle tissue, and a little healthy fat from the coconut milk and chia seed to keep you full and satisfied. Plus, the potassium in the pumpkin and banana will replenish those electrolytes lost after an intense training session. 

Ingredients

• 1 c unsweetened coconut milk*
• 1/3 c pumpkin puree
• 1/4c old-fashioned oats
• ½ frozen banana
• ½ tbsp chia seed
• ¼ tsp pumpkin pie spice*
• ¼ tsp cinnamon
• 1.5 scoop protein powder***
• 5 drops Stevia Drops, vanilla crème flavor****
• 3 ice cubes

 *Milk substitutions—almond, low-fat, soy, rice—will work too, but the consistency will not be as thick.

**If you don’t have pumpkin pie spice on hand, add a dash of each the following: cinnamon, nutmeg, ginger, allspice.

***The best flavors for this recipe are graham cracker (yes, they make delicious flavor), vanilla, cinnamon swirl or unflavored.

****You can sub this with ½ tsp Stevia and ¼ tsp vanilla extract

Directions

1. Add all ingredients into the blender, and pulse until smooth.
2. Enjoy immediately. Makes one awesome serving.

Nutritional Information & Macros

Dietary Information: Dairy/Lactose free, Gluten free (if gluten-free oats are used), No added sugar (natural sugars in fruit), Vegetarian, Vegan (if Vegan protein used),

Macros per shake (one serving)

• 387 calories
• 9g fat
• 40g carbs
• 37g protein

The post Pumpkin Pie Protein Shake appeared first on Born Fitness.

Even worse, if you search for “fat loss recipes,” or “healthy snacks” most of the options taste about as good as you’d imagine. As in, they’re not enjoyable. At all.

That’s why we created the PB&J protein ball. It’s a muscle building snack, weight loss snack, and convenient option for any situation all wrapped into one.

Take that delicious childhood memory, add in healthy omega-3 fats and some extra protein, roll that into a ball, and you have yourself a perfect [adult] snack. Enjoy 2 or 3 protein balls in between meals to satiate your hunger, satisfy your cravings or simply to feel like a kid again.

We don’t care what your reason is, as long as you eat them and enjoy the delicious moment.

Ingredients

• 8 medjool dates, pitted
• 1/3 c all-natural creamy peanut butter
• 2 tbsp low-sugar or sugar-free jelly, flavor of choice*
• 10 drops Stevia Drops, vanilla crème
• 1 tbsp chia seed
• 4 tbsp peanuts, roasted and unsalted
• 1/2c old-fashioned oats
• 2 scoops protein powder**
• Dash of cinnamon
• Pinch of sea salt

*This recipe was made with Smucker’s Low-Sugar Strawberry Preserves.

**We recommend an unflavored, vanilla or peanut butter flavored protein powder for this recipe.

Directions

1. In a small bowl, add the pitted dates and just enough water to cover the top. Let soak for 10 to 15 minutes while you prepare the rest of the ingredients.
2. In a food processor, add the dates, peanut butter, jelly, Stevia drops, protein powder, cinnamon and sea salt. Process until fully combined. You may have to stop and use a spatula to scrap down the sides. Then you are welcome to “taste test” the spatula (because you have to make sure it’s good so far).
3. Then add the chia seed, peanuts and oats. Pulse in quick increments. This will allow all of the ingredients to combine while still maintaining some of the textures of the oats, chia and peanuts.
4. Spoon out about a tablespoon size of the mixture and roll into a ball about one inch thick. Wetting your hands will help you roll the balls easier.
5. Repeat for each ball. Recipe yields about 25 balls.

Nutritional Information & Macros

Dietary Information: Dairy/Lactose free, Gluten free (if gluten-free oats are used), No trans fat

Macros per ball (recipe yields 25):

69.6 calories

2g fat

9g carbs

4g protein

The post PB&J Protein Snack Balls appeared first on Born Fitness.