Cinnamon Walnut Protein Pancakes

Here's a simple and quick recipe for cinnamon-walnut protein pancakes that are gluten-free, lactose-free, and egg-free! Ingredients:

• 1 cup old fashioned oats
• ½ cup brown rice flour
• ½ cup almond meal
• 1 scoop vanilla whey protein powder
• 1 small ripe banana
• 1/3 cup walnuts
• 1 Tbsp of cinnamon

Directions: Add all ingredients to a large mixing bowl. Add unsweetened vanilla almond milk and stir until desired consistency is reached. Line a frying pan with olive oil and cook at medium temperature until done. Makes 6 pancakes. Try topping them off with all natural almond butter instead of reaching for the syrup or butter! The almond butter will provide good fat for healthy brain and cell function. Each pancake provides 8g of protein and 20g of carbohydrates. This meal is perfect for either a pre workout (45-60minutes before workout) or post workout (immediately after workout) snack. They are a great fuel source specifically for weight training, circuit training, or interval training. The complex carbs are slow- digesting, so they can be readily available throughout the entire workout, start to finish. As a pre workout snack, it will fuel your body with the carbohydrates needed to provide the muscles with energy and the protein needed in order to burn fat, not muscle. If you do not provide the body with carbohydrates and protein about 45-60 minutes before your workout, the body cannot efficiently tap into fat stores, and your workout will not be as optimal as is could be. As a post workout snack, the carbohydrates provide replenishment for glycogen stores that your body used as fuel for your muscles and provides the fast-digesting protein needed to repair muscle tissue. Carbohydrates and protein work hand in hand in repairing muscle tissue, which is important in order to become leaner and stronger. Good choices of carbohydrates (such as oats) and clean digesting, fast-absorbing protein (such as whey) are two vital components of both your pre workout meal and your post workout meal. Try switching up your usual protein bar/shake for this tasty treat!