Flapjacked protein pancakes

 

A friend of mine at SMACK! Media shared with me the website Flapjacked protein pancakes.

 

Here's a little about the product philosophy:

Jennifer and David Bacon founded the company based on the premise that healthy meals should not only fuel our bodies but also taste great but fuel us with energy to get through our day. Our pancake mix is easy to prepare making it simple for the modern families busy and active lifestyles. FlapJacked is perfectly balanced to fuel your body and help control hunger. This delicious, protein-packed and fiber-rich pancake mix is made with only the highest quality ingredients such as whole grain oats, quinoa and coconut flour that provides our body with the essentials to stay healthy and feel great. We fortify with Whey Protein Isolate and naturally sweeten these delicious fluffy flapjacks with real fruit (no sugar added!). Loaded with antioxidants, potassium, fiber, calcium, magnesium and vitamins, FlapJacked Protein Pancakes are a complete meal that supports muscle growth and balances blood sugar. Rest assured, we use NO GMO ingredients, NO Preservatives, NO Artificial color, NO Artificial flavoring or NO Artificial ANYTHING!

The only things needed to make a simple easy meal of nutrient dense flapjacks that are sure to satisfy is water and a griddle.

 

As a real-food fanatic, I also have a real approach to life. In other words, I try to keep life balanced but also not extreme. Therefore, I emphasize real food in my diet and encourage a real food, plant strong diet but I don't have an off-limit food list. You see how I eat via facebook (and Twitter @trimarnicoach and instagram @trimarni) and my blog so I don't think I need to explain my passion for real food which makes up the majority of our diet (Karel and Campy included).

 

So, at first I was a bit hesitant to try this product for I will not try or promote any product that I do not believe in or that I wouldn't use myself.

 

But after reviewing the ingredients, I was impressed with the wholesomeness of this pancake mix as well as the nutrition facts along with the nice combination of protein to carbohydrates (without being loaded with sodium and sugar). So, I decided to try it out and my friend at SMACK! media sent me a few packets to try out.

 

 

 Flavors:

Banana Hazelnut

Buttermilk

Cinnamon Apple

 

After my indoor brick workout on Saturday (Karel rode outside and did a bike + longish run), it was time for pancakes!!

 

Karel picked the cinnamon apple as the first one we would try, so I went to work in my kitchen and added my own special Trimarni touch to the cinnamon apple packet.

 

They were delicious - Not chalky from the protein powder, not super sweet or salty and a good texture and taste. This would be a great option to bring while traveling (if you have a kitchen available or griddle), at camps or a super easy recovery meal if you are one to slack on the recovery nutrition post-workout.

 

 

1 packet Flapjacked Cinnamon apple

1/2 cup frozen blackberries (I heated them in the microwave for 1 minute and then mashed with a fork until soft and juicy - be careful, they may splash so don't wear white! You could use any fresh or frozen fruit and it does not have to be mashed)

1/8 cup slivered almonds

1 small apple - chopped

Olive oil

Maple syrup (the real kind, not sugar free) or honey (the real kind, not sugar free)

 

1. Combine water and mix according to package.

2. Stir in blackberries and almonds.

3. Let sit for a few minutes while skillet heats to low-medium heat.

4. Add a drizzle of olive oil to cover bottom of the skillet.

5. Pour 1/4 cup mix to form pancakes and cook for 2 minutes on each side (or until golden brown).

6. Top with apples, cinnamon (optional) and maple syrup or honey.

Enjoy!

(I was not paid to promote this product. When it comes to me reviewing or promoting products, if I won't use it or eat it, I won't promote it)

 

Guess who made time out of his busy schedule this weekend to watch us enjoy our Flapjacked pancakes???

Watermelon ginger smoothie

Oster BRLY07-B 7-Speed Fusion Blender

I love my blender.....it is affordable and it durable. Two very important criteria for a Trimarni blender..for any food or gadget in my kitchen must fuel my active and healthy lifestyle. I don't eat for calories but for health, performance and for pleasure. 

When it comes to my eating "style", I'd say it is very intuitive. There's a lot of thinking about how food will make me feel as I eat it and afterward, some planning ahead but absolutely no guilty thoughts. I do not lecture or stress about food and eating is a happy time. Certainly, this was a long time in the making for several years of discovering a way of eating that works for me. But for the last few years, I have found myself with food freedom. In other words, food does not consume my life but instead it enhances me life. Food is not bad, overwhelming or difficult to understand but instead, something that I need on a daily basis for fuel and for health but also for the basic idea of eating for pleasure. I eat to honor hunger and stop when I am satisfied. If there is anything I don't like, it is being hungry but even worse, being stuffed. 

I find that many athletes and fitness enthusiasts are not in-tune with their body during training and thus, do not appreciate how food can help the body adapt to training stress and when properly timed with workouts can assist with successful balanced eating throughout the day. Although we should always focus on the nutrients found in food to protect our immune system from disease and illness, there is no better time during the day to put some passion into your eating, than when you are working out. 

Smoothies are an easy way to turn a recovery drink into a meal or to kick start the recovery process. There are dozens of ways to incorporate smoothies into your diet as an easy way to give your body fluids, vitamins, minerals and macronutrients. The ingredients in your smoothie depend on the purpose of the smoothie and with every food I put into my body, it has a purpose. Fuel. Health. Pleasure. 

I have a few "breakfast" meals that work for my body so depending on the workout and the type of morning I am planning (ex. working at the hospital vs being at home for my business) I have learned what meals and combinations of foods work best for me and my body. I don't waste energy on what other people are doing with the diet because I am not them and they are not me. For only I know my body and only I can reflect on what I feel is important to tweak in my diet to set myself up for successful eating for my active and busy life all while reducing my risk for disease so I can continue my awesome life for a few more decades to come.

Once you decide what is important to you with your eating in terms of why you are making changes, you will find it much easier to tweak the diet so that every day you are making a small change for long lasting results. There's no point being hungry, hoping to be better tomorrow, feeling low blood sugar or feeling guilty with eating. With a few small tweaks you can easily change your eating style and find yourself living a life that is not obsessed with food thoughts but instead enhanced with the nutrients found in your food choices.

A few of my favorite breakfast eats;

Yogurt w/ fruit and granola (typically when I work at home)
Egg omelet w/ veggies and cheese w/ fruit and bread (post long workout)
Oatmeal w/ fruit, nuts, protein powder (at the hospital)
Smoothie (intense workout or just in the mood)

Here is my delicious watermelon ginger smoothie that is packed with nutrition. I typically do not measure my food but I provided amounts for you so that you can make the perfect delicious smoothie to help nourish your body and/or recover from your workout.
I used this smoothie as a recovery "meal" and when I do that, I have some fats ad some type of carbs -typically some granola or breakfast bread (I love a good crunch).

                   Watermelon Ginger Smoothie

Ingredients4-5 large chunks watermelon

1/4 cup 0% fage greek yogurt

1 tbsp ground flax
7-8 ice cubes
~1.5 cups water
2 celery sticks (chopped and washed)
1 tbsp ginger (fresh, chopped)
1/4 cup frozen blueberries
1/2 large banana
25-30g vanilla whey protein (I typically don't consume the entire portion of smoothie so I use a bit more protein powder for another serving for Karel or for myself the next day).

1. Put all ingredients in the blender and blend. 

2. For a thicker smoothie (like a milkshake - how I like it :) ) keep the blender going for at least 1.5-2 minutes. You will get more volume, just make sure your blender has room for 6 cups (this is how much my creation made as listed above).

3. Pour smoothie into cups (I typically do a 3-4 cup serving post workout as my "meal" with some granola mixed in and then pour the rest in a coffee cup and freeze. I then defrost in 30-60 intervals the next day or as a snack later in the day).

This smoothie is packed with natural anti-inflammatories (ex. ginger and celery - you could throw in pineapple for an extra boost too) and also will help with hydration as it is packed with electrolytes. You may use any protein powder that you'd like (Ex. whey, soy, vegan).

 If you use a smoothie as a meal, I recommend to make sure it has some fat (ex. flax, PB, chia, avocado, oil) to slow down digestion otherwise you will be filled from volume and calories but may find yourself hungry 1-2 hours later. This smoothie typically holds me over for at least 3 hours.