Banana Chocolate Chip Protein Muffins

In case you’ve been living under a rock for the past 10 years, lean protein is a healthy diet staple.  Unfortunately, there’s not always time to prepare every single meal or snack every single day.  And let’s face it, I can’t eat chicken 6 times a day.

I’m a grab & go kind of chick.  I’m all about the convenience.

Unfortunately, grab & go snacks are not created equal.

I have been craving banana bread for weeks, but I didn’t want to blow all the healthy eating I’ve been up to.  I found a recipe for apple cinnamon protein muffins on Naomi’s blog.  And a banana chocolate chip bread on Nancy’s blog.  I smooshed the two ideas together and came up with banana chocolate chip protein muffins.

Here’s how it went down:

I pre-heated the oven to 350.

Mix together the dry ingredients first in a large bowl.

* 1 c oat flour (I put 1 cup of old-fashioned oats in the magic bullet until it looks like flour)

* 3 scoops of vanilla protein powder (I used BSN’s vanilla cream)

* 1 scoop of cinnamon protein powder (I used BSN’s cinnamon roll)

* 1/2 t baking soda

* a dash of cinnamon

Next, add the wet ingredients to the dry.

* 1/2 c skim milk

* 2 egg whites

* 1/4 c canola oil

* 1 t vanilla extract

In a smaller bowl, mash 3 very ripe bananas.  Leave them pretty lumpy.  The banana lumps will keep these muffins really moist.

Add the bananas in last to avoid over mixing.

You should be able to see chunks of banana

Fill muffin cups 3/4, and top with a few semi-sweet chocolate chips.  When you do this, press them in to the mix.  I didn’t and most of the chips fell off when I handled them after.

Bake for 15 minutes.  I know it seems like not enough time, but protein powder cooks up really quick.

I use the silicone muffin cups because in the past, when I used paper tins for protein muffins, they seem to get stuck.  Ew. These puppies just pop right out :).

I don’t know why, but they grew to be really oddly shaped!  HaHaHa!

This one actually looked like a face or better yet, a pig’s face to me. I have way too much time on my hands apparently!

These have been a nice & healthy  grab & go snack here at casa FSL!