How To Use Protein Powder? 13 Best Ways To Eat

Protein Pancakes

Protein pancakes can make a delicious and healthy breakfast. It is one of the best filling options to start your day. 

The recipe is simple, your regular batter just needs an addition of a scoop of protein powder. To be exact, reduce the portion of flour you use in your pancake and replace it with an equal amount of protein powder for the best results. This way, the batter's consistency remains the same and on the other hand you will be getting more protein in each bite. 

These pancakes are super customizable, so feel free to load them up with your favorite toppings from berries to natural sweeteners. The classic flavors including vanilla or chocolate can do more justice to these pancakes. The result will show up as a fluffier, more nutritious version of your favorite breakfast food, and you won’t get hungry an hour later.

Protein Smoothie

A protein smoothie is one of the easiest recipes that works for any time of the day. Whether you want an energetic start to your day, recover from a workout, or are searching for a quick meal replacement, a protein smoothie can make the most satisfying choice.

The beauty of a smoothie lies in the fact that it is way more adaptable. To your regular smoothie, you just need to add a scoop of protein powder, which is about 20 to 25 grams. If you want your smoothie to be rich rather than bland, you can use coconut or almond milk to prepare the shake, this addition will make the drink completely creamy.

For varying flavor and texture, go with fruits, some greens, or chocolate powder per your desire. A few extras like flaxseeds, chia seeds, or oats can be best for added fibers and healthy fats.

Protein Yogurt Bowl

The protein yogurt bowl is a wholesome meal that comes with a perfect balance of protein, healthy fats, and carbs. The best part about this recipe is it's too simple to prepare, you necessarily don’t need to be a chef to enjoy it.

Starting with your favorite kind of yogurt for the base, add some protein powder, you may use flavored ones for a perfect treat, to it. Stir the mix completely-no clumps to be detected! What's important here is that yogurts are already a protein source, so you may consider the protein powder that exactly needs to be added to the bowl.

A handful of nuts for the crunch, fruits for refreshment and natural sweeteners like honey or maple syrup are what make the bowl more interesting. You don't have to overthink here, a pile of these toppings means more nutrients.

Protein Hot Chocolate

Well, nothing can beat a steaming cup of hot chocolate on cold days. We have all loved it for its power to warm us from the inside out. But let’s face it, you might want to limit this drink when you are on a fitness journey and trying to hit your protein goals.

Protein hot chocolate comes up with a healthy twist for such individuals. This guilt-free drink comes up with a basic idea, blending protein powder into your hot chocolate mix. As a general guideline, use a scoop of protein powder for each serving of hot chocolate but you can change this amount depending on how much protein you’re aiming for. 

As the whisking is completed, you can add a little bit of natural sweetener for taste. Once it’s all mixed together, pour the protein hot chocolate into your favorite mug, and don't forget to top it off with a little extra goodness like marshmallows or a few chocolate shavings!

Protein Cake Bars

Protein cake bars can be an enjoyable way to get some protein boost. If you have a sweet tooth and can not say no to cakes and pastries, this recipe is best for you. This simple recipe demands protein powder and some form of whole-grain flour (like oat flour, almond flour, or whole wheat flour) as the base.

Remaining, you can customize! You can add some cocoa powder to the recipe for a chocolatey kick and a touch of applesauce or mashed banana for increased fluffiness. Once you are done with the batter, you can make protein cake bars uniquely yours by customizing the add-ins.

Chocolate chips, dried fruits or a handful of chopped nuts will make the cake even more nutritious as well as appealing. If you are a busy person, make them enough for a week and store them for later use.

Blueberry Protein Muffin

This recipe is all about elevating that classic muffin with some extra protein. For all the muffin lovers, nothing can be better than enjoying this delicious treat with all the benefits the protein has to offer.

For preparing this light snack, all you need is the basic ingredients flour, eggs, and a little sweetener. Protein powder is then swapped with the flour.

Whey protein or a plant-based protein powder works best for this recipe. It's best if you try to limit the amount of protein to 10 to 15 grams per muffin as too much can lead to dry or dense texture. As you combine the dry and wet ingredients and give them a perfect mix, baking them will give fluffy, golden muffins with a delightful pop of juicy blueberries in every bite.

Classic Protein Shake

Classic protein shakes immediately pop up in our minds when we talk about ways to consume protein powder. It’s the most straightforward way to use protein powder, and for good reason: it works.

Quick and versatile to make, this recipe can come to the rescue especially when you are pressed for time and need something to fuel your body immediately. A simple blending in of your choice of milk and protein powder shall work but if you are looking for something fancy, use some ice or fruit while blending in.

The flavor and texture can be further enhanced by adding some cacao powder or oats. Protein shake can be a good on-the-go option, shake it up in the morning and take it wherever you go.

Protein Packed Soup or Stew

Adding protein powder to soups and stews might sound a little unusual but it will blend seamlessly in dishes like creamy tomato soup, chicken stew and also vegetable broths. This option can be great for increasing calorie intake for people following a plant-based diet or those who don't want to rely solely on meats for their protein intake.

Here, unflavored protein powder works best as its neutral flavor allows the originality of soups and stews to shine. This recipe is perfect if you’re aiming for a high-protein lunch or dinner with other extra nutrients like carbs and fats.

Protein Packed Nut Butters

Snacking on peanut butter or almond butter or simply laying them on your toast makes a favorite snack of many. If you are someone who snacks on any of them here and then, this recipe may be for you.

Nut butter is high in healthy fats and adding protein powder can make it an energy-packed food for people who work out a lot. Except for using it as spreads, you could even roll it into protein balls with oats and honey, which makes another quick snack.

Opting for this recipe doesn't only mean your energy will be on a high note, it also means you will be staying fuller for a longer time completely satisfied.

Protein Ice Cream

This recipe is for ice cream fans, particularly the individuals looking for a creamy, dreamy bowl of ice cream that’s actually good for them. Protein ice cream is a game changer for someone who is craving a frozen treat without all the sugar and empty calories

To make it simple, use your favorite protein powder, your preferred milk, a little vanilla extract and a little natural sweetener and blend them together. As you pop it in the freezer and leave it for a few hours, you will end up with a creamy, soft-serve-like treat that’s packed with protein.

For better results, stir the mix after every 30 minutes while it's still in the freezer. This will make sure the ice crystals are broken, hence providing it with a melt-in-mouth texture.

Protein Cookies

Preparing cookies at home is not a big deal but getting the ones ready that are towards the nutritious side can be quite tricky. Well, swapping regular flour with some protein powder can be mindful to prepare this sweet treat that could help fuel your body with protein.

Protein powder, oats, eggs, natural sweetener and some nut butter for binding all the agents can make a perfect basic protein cookie recipe. As they come out of the oven nicely baked, you will be getting cookies packed with carbs, protein and fat. The beauty of these homemade protein cookies is that they are soft, chewy and downright delicious and do not taste like chewing through a brick like the store-bought ones.

Protein Mug Cake

Protein Mug Cake is the ultimate dessert hack that takes about five minutes from start to finish and can be even prepared in a microwave. To get it right, start by knowing that the consistency of the batter needs to be thick, similar to that of the cake.

Protein powder, a little baking powder, unsweetened cocoa powder (if your mood demands chocolate), a splash of milk (dairy or non-dairy), and a sweetener or some mashed bananas are enough ingredients for the preparation. If you are someone who loves extras on your cake, you may also opt for chocolate chips, berries or any of your favorites.

Overall, this option allows you to devour something indulgent without blowing up the micros.

Protein Brownies

Another recipe that fits well for chocolate lovers, protein brownies might just become your new favorite treat. The good part about these brownies is, unlike the traditional ones, they are not loaded with sugar and empty calories but can give you that sweet, chocolatey fix.

With the base made using protein powder and any other ingredients except refined flour, like whole grain flour or almond powder, you can get an even healthier version of these brownies. You can use unsweetened powder, as much as you want, for satisfying results.

Protein brownies are gooey and fudgy and can make a perfect post-dinner dessert. A swirl of peanut butter or some chocolate chips can bring an extra touch of indulgence in these brownies.

Things To Consider While Using Protein Powder

It's important to get things beyond just tossing protein powder into a glass of water whenever you feel like boosting your protein intake. For whatever purpose you are using this powder, there are some practical considerations to make sure you’re getting the most out of it. Some important ones that you should be informed about include:

Quality

Many of us find it tempting to grab the cheapest tub off the shelf, but the one thing you should be knowing is, you get what you pay for. Cheaper protein powders don't have all the good stuff, they come with fillers and other low-quality ingredients that might not provide you the benefits you are looking for. So, while purchasing, go for the ones that have minimal additives as the quality of the powder you are using matters.

Consume Only Needed Amount

If you have a misconception that you need to chug protein shakes or any of the recipes listed above all day, every day then you might be wrong. In fact, there may or may not be a requirement for protein supplements, especially when your diet has enough foods high in protein.

If, in cases, you really need it, going overboard won't work as well. In general, 20 to 30 grams of protein powder per meal is considered enough.

Hydration

Consuming protein powder regularly can make you dehydrated. So, drinking enough water when your diet makes use of protein powder is important. More protein also means high pressure on the digestive system as well as kidneys, so, to make the processing easier and to release the strain from the organs, drinking plenty of water is recommended.