Chunky Monkey High Protein Oatmeal [Recipe]

Living in Florida my beautiful winter wardrobe spends most of its time in hibernation. So I relish those rare chilly days when the temperature falls below 70℉! I dig out my

UGGs from the back of the closet, grab my favorite wooly sweater and cozy up with a bowl of delicious oatmeal. There’s something so pleasantly comforting about a big ol’ bowl of hearty porridge. It’s like being in a warm embrace on a cold winter’s night. Heartwarming ♥︎

Don’t get me wrong, I’m grateful every day for the beautiful climate we enjoy here in sunny Naples, but a little sweater weather every now and then makes me appreciate it just a little bit more. Plus who doesn’t love the opportunity to wear baggy clothes and slippers all day long?!

About 6 months back, Mo had his annual check-up. Mo is our very ferocious looking but entirely harmless Old English Bulldog. This puppy gets freaked out easily & is pretty much scared of everything. He once got trapped in the dining room…by his own SHADOW! Mo loves the comfort & safety of his luxury doggy bed, so we have a hard time getting him outside to exercise –
the struggle is real for dogs too! So, now you’re primed for the results of Mo’s check-up. Jason came back looking sheepish & confessed that Mo had put on 22lbs in a year! Can you believe it?! How in holymacromony had we (Jason) let his macros get so out of control?

Clearly, a big part of the problem was that our beloved beast wasn’t getting enough exercise. Another issue was that Jason’s mom was feeding him treats and cooking him breakfast whenever she took care of the dogs – I forgot to mention we have a perfectly healthy rescue dog called Marley. She’s missing a leg and poops in her sleep but otherwise, she’s completely normal.

So, operation “Mo Will Meet his Macros” has been in full effect since then, starting with daily exercise. We decided it would do us all the world of good to get out for an early morning walk, before we get bogged down with life’s incessant tasks. We love our morning walks now & can’t imagine starting the day without the. It gives us an opportunity to talk without distractions and enjoy our beautiful surroundings. I always come back with a deep sense of gratitude for all that I have right on my doorstep. Whatever the weather, my heart always feels warm with these two goofballs nearby.

Jay spent most of his life in Upstate New York and Albany where it’s positively baltic for a significant portion of the year. He doesn’t miss the frigid cold but he loves it when there’s a chill in the air and the ground is crisp underfoot. He gets all excited about wearing his beanie and sweats & I get all excited because I think he looks so darn cute in them! ♥︎

Aside from the fact that we get to have chocolate chips for breakfast, both Jay and I love this oatmeal because it’s high in protein from the added egg whites. I can’t believe I never thought of adding egg whites to my oatmeal before! I was always eating it with greek yogurt and fruit, which still works well with cooled oatmeal, but on a chilly or wet morning, I want my oatmeal piping hot! That way I feel warm and toasty from the inside out.

Give it a whirl and feel free to get creative! Swap out different ingredients like apple, instead of banana and add a dash of cinnamon to make your bowl as tasty as apple pie. Check out my video below to watch me making it.

INGREDIENTS:

• 60g banana
• 1/4 cup Quaker Oats Instant Oatmeal or Bob’s Red Mill Gluten Free Old Fashioned Oats
• 9 tbsp liquid egg whites
• 0.5 tbsp Nestle semi-sweet chocolate chips or I also like Enjoy Life semi-sweet chocolate chips
• 0.5 tbsp Chia Seeds
• 1 tbsp of Peanut Butter – I love Betsy’s Best Gourmet Peanut Butter with Cinnamon & Chia Seeds (optional)*

METHOD:

1. Measure out your oatmeal microwavable bowl and add 1/2 cup of water. Microwave for 1 minute, remove and stir.
2. Add your liquid egg whites to the bowl and stir in a little stevia. Place the bowl back in the microwave and cook for 1 minute at a time stirring and incorporating the egg whites until fully cooked.
3. Once cooked through and desired consistency is achieved, throw in your chocolate chips, stir in your peanut butter and layer on your banana. Devour immediately! 🙂

I used to be terrified of eating carbohydrates but once I understood how they could fit into my day, my body composition started to change drastically. Now I eat almost 100g more carbohydrates than when I first started and look and feel the best I have in my life! I sleep better, I have so much more energy and I can enjoy eating out without feelings of guilt or remorse. If you have a fear of carbohydrates check out my little video
here or maybe we can help you with our “I Want to Gain Weight” or “I’m Ready to Eat More” product bundles.

Comment below and let me know how your Chunky Monkey Oatmeal turns out! I’d love to hear about how you get your mornings started & what you enjoy having in your oatmeal.