Dining out and shopping for food is limited at the moment - which can be especially frustrating during already difficult times. Without the luxury of going out to buy specific food items at short notice, it's all the more important to get creative with what you can order online and what's already in your kitchen. Protein powder is a great example - it keeps in the cupboard for a long time and is really versatile. There are plenty of options on the market to suit your budget, flavour preferences and training goals. Better still, most brands offer affordable home delivery.
We love MyProtein's range of vegan powders - you can get 35% off your order with the code STEPH.
With a few extra hours on your hands each week during quarantine, there's no better time to get creative in the kitchen and incorporate protein powder into your meal-prep. Here are four ways to get started:
1. Baking
If you haven't jumped on the banana bread train yet, now's your chance! There are plenty of recipes online that can be easily customised with nuts, seeds and chocolate chips to your taste. As a general rule of thumb, when replacing flour for protein powder, start with replacing 1/3 cup of protein powder for every 1 cup of flour in the recipe - but make sure you check this with the specific ingredients you plan to use.
2. Yoghurt
Make your yoghurt extra creamy and pudding-like by adding a tablespoonful of protein powder (flavoured or unflavoured) per serving and stirring well. Top with homemade granola, crushed nuts or fresh fruit and a drizzle of honey for a quick, protein-filled breakfast! We've been enjoying our breakfast in Cocabana bowls.
3. Coffee
Why not start your day with a boost of protein to help you stay fuller for longer? Protein is a great option to stir into your morning cup - opt for an unflavoured supplement if you love the taste of coffee, or go for a vanilla/chocolate flavour if you want it to double up as a sweetener. You can also experiment with the type of protein that works best with your brew - soy, pea, hemp or brown rice proteins all add a unique flavour twist to drinks.
4. Smoothies
An absolute no-brainer - we've loved making smoothies as the weather has warmed up, and these are a great way to use frozen fruit and veg (and a great reason to preserve the life of fresh produce). Whether you prefer a frosty smoothie bowl to tuck into with a (bamboo!) spoon or a silky-thick drink to take on your daily walk outside, add a handful of spinach or kale to your next concoction - and a serving of your favourite flavoured protein powder to balance out the taste of the greens!
Photo by Louise Burton on Unsplash