Banana Oat Protein Lactation Cookies

Before I had the twins, my goal was to feed them by breastfeeding.  After they were delivered prematurely though and spent about 2 weeks in the NICU being fed by bottles and feeding tubes, we didn't start off great with breastfeeding directly so I switched to pumping for them with a goal of being able to provide as much of the milk they needed as possible myself.  That's a tall order with two babies so as I was building my supply I tried to incorporate snacks into my diet that could help my production.  This recipe for banana oat protein cookies was the easiest recipe I found by far, and it was easy to modify to add in an extra ingredient known for boosting milk supply.  Rest assured - if you are not pumping or breastfeeding you can easily remove that ingredient and these are very normal cookies to bake and enjoy! They only need a few ingredients and are a great way to use up two ripe bananas on your counter. 

The main ingredients needed are two medium to large ripe bananas, oats, protein powder, and chocolate chips.  Any type of chocolate chips will do (I have had a discount for HU chocolate - code "WHIMS" may still work for a discount!) Any type of protein powder will work as well - I like a snickerdoodle flavor from PEScience or I used the Clean Simple Eats brand as well).  Oats are known for helping with milk supply production, so leaving the ingredients as is will still make these a useful lactation snack but I do add in a tablespoon of Brewer's Yeast which has been known to help boost milk production as well.  

This recipe is pretty hard to mess up - the batter is very forgiving! If you leave out the Brewer's Yeast you may not need to add a tablespoon of almond milk if you have no issues combining the ingredients together.  If your bananas are smaller and the batter seems dry when mixing though you can add a tablespoon or two of unsweetened almond milk to help combine.

The batter will be very wet when it's scooped onto the baking sheet which is why I recommend using a silicone liner for baking. I wouldn't worry about forming a perfect cookie shape either - the batter just blobs on the tray but will come together after it's baked!

Any leftovers should be stored in the fridge, but it's pretty easy to work through this small batch pretty quickly since it just makes a dozen cookies! Adding the Brewer's Yeast does not effect the flavor at all either, so these are safe to be shared with any of your non-lactating friends as well (my husband eats a handful of these every time I make them!!)

I'm happy to report that I've boosted my milk supply to the point where I am pumping between 57-60 ounces a day for my boys! Occasionally when they are having a ravenous day I need to add in one bottle of formula for them, but I am pretty proud that I am able to supply most of what they need.  Pumping is a LOT of work - I'm hooked up to my pump every three hours pretty much around the clock, but these boys sure make it worth while (and the extra snacks are not a bad perk either, hah!)

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Healthy Banana Blondies with Greek Yogurt Cream Cheese Frosting

It's about time I finally posted my recipe for my FAVORITE way to use up two spotty bananas in a lightened up baked good item!

 

I am someone who just hates to waste any little bit of food, so when I had two spotty bananas left on my counter a few months ago that were about to go bad I went down a deep, dark internet hole trying to find a healthier recipe to use them in.  I landed on a recipe from Amy's Healthy Baking blog and altered it a bit to my liking.  PSA: Amy has TONS of recipes on her site so if you are ever looking for something specific, give her page a search!

 

 I tweaked Amy's recipe a few times and ended with a version that I've been making over and over again ever since! I changed it to use less flour and instead subbed in 1/4 cup of collagen to cut some carbs, boost the protein, and add in some of the health benefits that collagen provides (good for your joints, skin, hair and nails!) If you don't have collagen handy you can sub in 1/4 cup of flour or even try 1/4 cup of protein power.  You will need to watch your cook time for each though - start with less time on the timer and check it often with a tooth pick, and if you use protein powder you will likely need more liquid as well.

The recipe is very low fat as it only uses a little bit of butter. To keep the bars moist, greek yogurt is added instead of extra butter or oil  There's also not much extra sweetener added - the spotty bananas help keep it sweet enough on it's own!

The best upgrade for the bars though is a big slather of cream cheese icing on top that requires only three ingredients.  The recipe for the icing below will cover one batch of bars with a little extra leftover, but it's easy to double and I often will to have it on hand for other goodies (or for when all these bars get eaten in a few days and it's time to make more!!!)

These bars are hubby and house guest approved and work great as a snack or dessert without breaking the calorie bank. They've been a staple in my my meal prep lately and I hope you enjoy them as much as I do!

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Almond Butter Collagen Balls

Thank you Vital Proteins for sponsoring this post so I can share the recipe for these quick and easy almond butter collagen balls.

When my life gets busy I often order healthy meals from a local meal prep delivery company to make sure I have healthy food options on hand when I don't have quite enough time to do my own meal prep.  I'll order some meals for my boyfriend as well, and recently my local meal prep company came out with some high protein snacks that they now offer in addition to regular meals and my boyfriend requested that we get an order of some high protein peanut butter balls they added to the menu.

We got the balls in our next delivery...and they were GOOD.  Like, really really good.  But I literally could not justify the price of paying for them when I looked at the ingredient list.  It was so basic that I knew I could make my own version in much less time than it would take to meal prep chicken and veggies! I figured I would save my money for the meals that actually really helped save me time on the weekends being able avoid meal prep, and try my own recipe for some nut butter balls!

Instead of using regular vanilla protein powder I used the vanilla collagen peptides from Vital Protein to give these balls some extra health benefits along with the protein. Collagen supports bone and joint health, and promotes healthier hair, skin, nails and digestion! I transformed these basic balls into a wellness powerhouse just by making one simple ingredient swap from protein powder to collagen.  That's why I love using collagen as a protein source now: you get so many other benefits from it and it's normally an easy swap in baking or making desserts!

No baking is needed for these treats though: it literally only took me 15 minutes to mix up all the ingredients and form them into balls.  You can drizzle some chocolate on top if desired, pop um in the freezer for a bit to harden up, and voila.  Good to go!

I also added flaxseed to these balls to give some extra fiber and used almond butter instead of peanut butter because that was all I had on hand.  Honestly I think any nut butter would work for this recipe - I used a smooth, creamy natural almond butter that was not sweetened so I did add some extra sweetener to the recipe.  If your nut butter is sweetened already you may want to omit that. I also used sugar free syrup as a low carb binding agent and sweetener, but you could sub honey/maple syrup for a less artificial option. 

 

Overall, these little balls are pretty hard to mess up and tasted great! I made them this weekend as a little surprise gift for my boyfriend before he left for a week long work trip to take along with him as a snack, but surprise surprise he forgot them and left them at home.  As a 36-year-old who constantly is forgetting his own toothbrush when we take weekend trips together and has to borrow mine (ICK) I'm not all that surprised.  I'm also not all that mad about it though...because now I have these yummy little bites to snack on all by myself while he is gone!!!

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4 Ingredient Banana Protein Cookies

Thank you Vital Proteins for sponsoring this post so I can share the recipe for these healthy and easy banana collagen protein cookies.

 

I am one of those types of people who HATES to waste food.  I eat broccoli that is on the verge of making the fridge unbearably stinky and  have snacked on yogurt who’s expiration date was two weeks prior because hey: close enough, right?!? I’m a pro at picking between the slimy leaves of spinach in a bag on its way out to use EVERY POSSIBLE fresh leaf left and have definitely eaten some questionably old left-over grilled chicken but have luckily lived to see another day so far!

Needless to say, when I see bananas going bad on my counter I immediately think of ways to save them whether by eating, freezing, or using them in a recipe. My stockpile of frozen bananas has gotten exceedingly large lately though, so when I had two measly bananas about to go bad and no desire to pack them for my regular afternoon snack I knew I needed to find a recipe to use them up. Thus, these 4 ingredient banana, collagen, oatmeal cookies were born!

I actually remember making a simplified version of these “3 ingredient cookies” when I was on my weight loss journey.  That was back when I had a doggie and I made the mistake of leaving the cookies on the edge of the counter to cool after taking them out of the oven.  I walked away and by the time I came back my dog had eaten two whole rows of the cookies!!! Ugh. Darn dog.

Luckily he was cute so I let him get away with it and LUCKILY he was ok afterwards as well because these cookies have chocolate chips in them which are a big no-no for dogs!

They may be a no-no for dogs…but the chocolate chips are a big YES YES for me in these cookies! I beefed up the original “3 ingredient cookie” recipe which was only chocolate chips, bananas and oats by adding Vital Proteins Banana Cinnamon Collagen Whey for a boost of protein and health benefits.   2 Scoops of this whey has 26 grams of protein and is also packed full of probiotics for good gut health.  It uses real banana, cinnamon and vanilla flavors with no artificial sugars or sweeteners added.  The whey is also combined with collagen to benefit from all the wonders that collagen supplements do for the body such as improved hair, skin and nail health. The collagen whey has a ton of great health benefits AND tastes good as well so it definitely deserves to become the 4^th ingredient in these cookies!

These cookies come together super quick and you only need two bananas to make them so it’s a perfect staple recipe to pull out for when you need a sweet treat.  It also only makes 12 servings so you won’t be stuck with dozens of cookies tempting you for days after you bake them. And while cookies are always tempting…these are actually very low in fat and calories so no need for extra guilt when you eat them!

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Mixed Berry Collagen Crisp

Thank you Vital Proteins for sponsoring this post so I can share the recipe for this healthy mixed berry collagen crisp!

 

My boyfriend and I signed up to be part of a local farm share this summer and it has been a MOSTLY wonderful experience.  I have loved getting so much fresh and local produce every other week and getting to try a bunch of new vegetables I would normally never pick out for myself.  My boyfriend is usually the one who picks up our share but last week he was out of town for work and I had to head over to the farm to pick up the produce instead.

 

Most of the veggies are already picked and sorted for you in bins but there are a few options for you to go out onto the farm to pick yourself.  Raspberries were on the "you-pick" list last week so I ventured out on the farm to try and get some.  Let me tell you something.  I was SEVERELY under prepared to go pick raspberries and I have a total new found appreciation for all farm workers everywhere now.  I rolled up to the farm right after work at the end of a hot summer day where it had rained all afternoon.  My dress pants and shoes were soon completely covered in mud, it was so hot outside that I sweat through my bra before I even found where the dang raspberries were growing on the farm, and I left overall smelling like a big ole cow turd and having multiple VERY close encounters with some bugs and only a little tiny quart of fresh raspberries to show for it.

Luckily, the raspberries were really delicious and they helped inspire this healthy, mixed berry collagen crisp or else that farm trip would have all been in vain.  I am DEFINITELY sending my boyfriend out to pick up the next share that has a "you-pick" anything, and I will bribe him to let me stay at home with promises of this yummy dessert as a thank-you for after he gets back :)

I used three different kinds of berries in the fruit portion of this crisp and then added mixed berry collagen peptides from Vital Proteins to the oat crumble on top to enhance the flavor of the crisp and give it added health benefits!

This version of collagen peptides is supplemented with hyaluronic acid which helps to promote healthier hair, skin and nails and probiotics to support better gut health.  Collagen is well known for increasing bone and joint health and this version of collagen peptides are sourced from grass-fed, pasture-raised bovine hides and organic berries.  Even if you don't have your own organic raspberries that were literally plucked from in-between wayyyy too much nature than I was comfortable being close to like mine were, you can still know that you are using a really quality collagen supplement ingredient with these peptides from Vital Proteins!

As always with my desserts, I try to keep the calories low and add extra protein wherever possible. The recipe for this crisp makes 4 servings for less than 200 calories each with 7 grams of protein per serving.  Get the full nutrition facts and recipe below!

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Healthy Strawberry Lemon Cake

Thank you Vital Proteins for sponsoring this post so I can share the recipe for this healthy strawberry lemon cake using beauty collagen!

It's STRAWBERRY season and I can't get enough of them at the moment! You don't realize how flavorful strawberries can be until you try the first one of the new season and realize all the ones that you were eating up until this point of the year just really sucked in comparison haha. The first one I had this season was from a little produce place in New Jersey when I was visiting the beach with my parents and DANG: Jersey is called the garden state for a good reason because that was one of the best strawberries I've had my whole life!

Strawberries are delicious on their own, but throw um in a cake and they taste even better if you ask me.  Although, is anything in cake ever a bad thing??? Probably not.  Especially if it includes a sweet lemon icing glaze drizzled on top of the whole thing.  That DEFINITELY kicks it up a notch.

This cake can also kick your BEAUTY GAME up a notch because I used Vital Proteins Beauty Collagen in the recipe to add flavor, protein, and great health benefits! The beauty collagen is a blend of bovine hide collagen peptides,  hyaluronic acid, probiotics, and organic strawberry and organic lemon.  The collagen helps support the glow and tone of your skin and improves skin elasticity. 

One serving of the collagen also packs 11 grams of protein which gives this healthy strawberry cake an extra boost of protein as well! The cake has a very refreshing flavor from lemon zest and lemon juice used in the batter, but the best part is the strawberries baked on top.  When you go to bite into them they add just the perfect sweetness! 

The cake is also very low fat because I used greek yogurt instead of a bunch of butter or oil so the cake still stays moist but without the extra calories.  Full nutrition and recipe are below, I hope you have a chance to give it a try while strawberries are so yummy and fresh right now!

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Mini Mixed Berry Collagen Cheesecakes

Thank you Vital Proteins for sponsoring this post so I can share the recipe for these healthy and high protein mini mixed berry cheesecakes.

I'm a firm believer that A: everything in mini size is more adorable and B: dessert is never optional. Combine mini WITH dessert in a cheesecake form and now you have a non-optional adorable dessert that you just have to make this summer!

These mini mixed berry cheesecakes are made with a vanilla cookie crust and and cheesecake layer that incorporates greek yogurt to keep the fat content low and the protein level high.  The cheesecake layer is also berry flavored so I topped each one with a blackberry and raspberry to keep up the theme.  Hit each one with a squirt of whipped cream and now you have a healthy themed dessert ready for the 4th of July!

I actually used two different flavors of collagen from Vital Proteins in this recipe to boost up the protein and give this dessert all the added health benefits that collagen aids in including healthier hair, skin and nails and better gut and joint health.  I used vanilla collagen peptides in the crust of the cheesecake and the mixed berry collagen peptides in these cheesecake portion.

Both of these versions of collagen peptides are supplemented with hyaluronic acid (also helps promote healthier hair, skin and nails) and probiotics to support better gut health.  Both versions of these peptides are still only sourced from one ingredient: grass-fed, pasture-raised bovine hides but they are flavored with organic ingredients which adds great added flavor to these mini cheesecakes as well!

The best thing about mini desserts is they are also mini in calories! One cheesecake is just over 100 calories but still makes a super satisfying dessert. So good that you can have more than one with no guilt whatsoever! They don't taste "healthy" either: I guarantee if you make them for a 4th of July picnic this year NO ONE will be able to tell that they are made "healthier" than a typical cheesecake. I would plan on making a double batch for sure!

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High Protein Collagen Cookie Skillet

Thank you Vital Proteins for sponsoring this post so I can share the recipe for this low fat and high protein skillet cookie made using banana and collagen whey for a delicious dessert with added health benefits!

This cookie is my new favorite dessert to whip up when I only have a few minutes but am craving something sweet that won't cost me a ton of calories. It's a low fat treat without very much added sugar but still tastes sweet and delicious - mainly because one of the major ingredients used is a ripe banana that adds to the sweetness and keeps the cookie moist without the need for any extra oil or butter.

It is also high protein because the other main ingredient is banana cinnamon collagen whey from Vital Proteins! This collagen whey includes both collagen and organic grass-fed whey protein with other natural banana flavors, probiotics, and natural hyaluronic acid. It's a supplement packed full of added health benefits such a good gut health from the probiotics, improved athletic performance and improved recovery and bone/joint repair and flexibility from the collagen whey.

I baked my cookie in an 8 inch skillet pan. This skillet makes a cookie the perfect size to split in two and share with a friend or just save the second half for dessert the next night: if you store it in an air tight container the leftovers should last for another day!

I will admit that I did actually eat leftovers of this for breakfast one morning...but with one serving coming in at just under 200 calories and packing 17 grams of protein in it, this cookie actually CAN be part of a nutritious and balanced breakfast!

The collagen whey is the main dry ingredient used but I also added a bit of oat flour which makes this cookie completely gluten free! I used liquid stevia to sweeten the batter but I also tested the recipe using powdered stevia and sugar free syrup and both worked as well.  I've probably made this 5 or 6 times now since I first tested it out and have LOVED it each time.  I hope you enjoy!

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Mixed Berry Collagen Cupcakes

Thank you Vital Proteins for sponsoring this post so I can share the recipe for these mixed berry collagen cupcakes complete with healthy cream cheese frosting for a low fat and high protein dessert!

It is finally semi-starting to feel like spring here in Pennsylvania which after a long and abnormally COLD April so far has been such a lovely blessing.  I've been so tired of wearing the same dang sweaters and warm clothes to work everyday - I just want to break out the short sleeves, get outside and feel some warm spring sunshine on my face!!!

Spring makes me crave light and fruity flavors.  I mean chocolate and peanut butter will always be my favorite combination in the world but when the weather warms up a bit I just gravitate towards flavors that are still sweet but not so heavy.  These mixed berry cupcakes I recently whipped up are the PERFECT light and sweet treat to satisfy a sweet tooth craving without being an over-the-top and heavy dessert!

They are light on calories (only 120 per cupcake INCLUDING the cream cheese frosting) but still huge on flavor!  I used Vital Proteins Mixed Berry Collagen Peptides in this recipe for a yummy berry base flavor and also incorporated raspberry jam, strawberry applesauce, and mixed berry Greek yogurt into the recipe for tons of yummy and fruity flavor in a low fat form.

In addition to the collagen peptides adding flavor, it also means that each cupcake is packed full of 11 grams of protein: most of which comes directly from the grass fed and pasture raised collagen peptides! This flavor of collagen from Vital Proteins is also mixed with hyaluronic acid and probiotics for gut and skin health.  I always love baking with collagen because instead of just adding protein to a recipe it gives an extra vitamin boost to support healthy hair, skin, nails, bone and joint health, digestion, and muscle recovery. Vital Proteins has the best collagen supplements that I have tried and this mixed berry flavor is one of my favorites for sure!

Have no fear about these cupcakes tasting "healthy:" they got the full-on boyfriend stamp of approval and barely lasted a few days in our fridge.  They are the perfect portion size to gobble up for a snack or dessert and taste amazing complete with lightened up cream cheese frosting and a cute little raspberry plopped on top for aesthetic purposes :)

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Single Serving Macro-Friendly Carrot Cake

A single serving cake that is less than 320 calories and packed full of protein for a healthy and super satisfying dessert!

Have you ever wanted to sit down and eat an entire cake all to yourself with no guilt???

Oh...ok just me? Hah. Nah, I don't need a whole regular size cake to myself, that may be a bit excessive.  But a single serving cake that is still a large serving size that not only tastes great but is packed full of protein??? Yup, SIGN ME UP FOR THAT ONE.

You can use the basics of this recipe to create various other flavor cakes but I made this version of high protein cake into a healthy carrot cake! Carrot cake is one of my favorite desserts ever (as long as it doesn't have raisins in it. SERIOUSLY. Who would ruin an amazing carrot cake by stuffing shriveled up grapes in it???) and with Easter right around the corner I figured a healthy and high protein carrot cake recipe would definitely be appreciated.

Most years at Easter I give myself free reign to enjoy all the yummy treats at brunch with my family, but this year Easter falls on the Sunday right before I leave for vacation in JAMAICA (!!!) so I want to keep a little better track of what I'm eating  since only four days after the holiday I'll be lounging in a bikini in Jamaica soaking up the sun :) I'm definitely thinking that this little mini cake will be the perfect Easter treat for me: who has to feel deprived when you can eat a whole cake for less than 320 calories which INCLUDES the cream cheese frosting!

You will need mini cake pans to make this cake: for size reference I used pans that were 4 inches in diameter which I bought off amazon for less than $7 for a set of three (affiliate link). Since this is a mini cake it only takes 10 minutes to bake so it can easily be whipped up when the craving for cake strikes! 

Each of the three mini cakes gets layered with a healthy cream cheese frosting so each slice is full of both delicious cake and the sweet creamy frosting for a totally epic dessert.  Last but not least: if you are following a high protein diet this cake with the frosting packs a heaping 39 grams of protein in it! Have I convinced you yet that you NEED to try this??? I think I've convinced myself that I need to make this again even before Easter ;) YUM!!!

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