protein

Vegan Chocolate Protein Waffles

vegan chocolate protein breakfast waffles healthy quick easy

Everyone loves a waffle. Add chocolate to the equation and you’ve got the ingredients for something truly magical. Plus knowing these waffles are vegan, and help with recovery from exercise thanks to the added protein, means they don’t have to be eaten as an occasional treat, but can be enjoyed as a healthy breakfast, snack or dessert any day of the week! Make a batch of these vegan chocolate protein waffles, freeze any leftovers, then pop one straight from the freezer into the toaster for two minutes for an instant pudding or breakfast when you next crave something sweet but healthy.

The peanut butter ‘caramel’ sauce I topped this with is a stroke of genius - just two ingredients and 10 seconds in the microwave is all it takes. Then you have an incredible sweet peanut butter sauce with the consistency of caramel that you can drizzle on anything, from these chocolate protein vegan waffles, to your morning porridge, or even vegan ice cream (where it almost sets and goes chewy over the cold ice cream thanks to the golden syrup). Try this sauce and you can thank me later :)

Don’t have a waffle maker? Still want a sweet vegan chocolatey protein snack? Try these chocolate protein microwave mug cakes that literally take 5 minutes to make.

* A note on protein - it’s absolutely not necessary to use protein supplements just because you’re on a vegan diet. They can however be useful and convenient, especially if you’re regularly weight training, where a higher protein intake can help with building muscle strength and mass - the same reason you’ll often see meat eaters drinking a whey protein shake after the gym! Vivo Life is my favourite vegan protein brand - all their products are vegan, use raw and fermented proteins for improved absorption, are independently tested for heavy metals, and are smooth and taste great! You can use ‘TJ10’ for a 10% discount on your first order with them!

vegan chocolate protein waffle recipe breakfast waffles

VEGAN CHOCOLATE PROTEIN WAFFLES RECIPE

Ingredients (makes 6 small waffles):

Peanut Butter Sauce (enough for 6 small waffles):

  • 1 Tbsp smooth peanut butter

  • 2 Tbsp golden syrup

Method:

Turn on the mini waffle maker to heat up while you prepare the batter

Mix the dry ingredients (flour, baking powder, sugar, cocoa powder and vegan protein powder) in a bowl

Add the soy milk and vegetable oil, and mix until smooth

Pour a small ladle of the batter mixture into the hot mini waffle maker and cook for around 6-7 minutes until golden and crunchy on the outside and fluffy on the inside

Once ready, remove the waffle and set aside on a wire rack while you cook the remaining waffles

To make the peanut butter sauce, simply spoon the peanut butter and golden syrup into a ramekin and microwave on full power for 10 seconds until warm. Stir together with a teaspoon until smooth and caramel-like in texture.

Pour the peanut butter sauce over the vegan chocolate protein waffles and top with your favourite fruit (here I used banana, chopped Medjool dates, and some raw cacao nibs for extra chocolate goodness!)

vegan chocolate protein waffle recipe breakfast waffles healthy
vegan chocolate protein waffle recipe vegan breakfast waffles
vegan chocolate protein waffle recipe breakfast waffles vegan nutrition healthy

Nutrition (per vegan waffle with peanut butter sauce):

  • Protein: 7.0g (Women: 14.0% / Men: 12.7%)

  • Iron: 1.6mg (Women: 10.8% / Men: 18.4%)

  • Calories: 189 (Women: 9.5% / Men: 7.6%)

  • Sugar: 11.2g (Women: 12.4% / Men: 9.3%)

  • Total Fats: 7.4g (Women: 10.6% / Men: 7.8%)

  • Saturated Fats: 1.3g (Women: 6.5% / Men: 4.3%)

  • Salt: 0.1g (Women: 1.7% / Men: 1.7%)

  • Fibre: 1.8g (Women: 6.0% / Men: 6.0%)

See the Nutrition Info page for more details on % of Dietary Reference Values for men and women.

vegan chocolate protein breakfast waffle recipe vegan waffles added protein healthy

My Go-To Green Smoothie

I can think of a hundred reasons why smoothies are such a great choice for breakfast. They're easy to take with you to have at work or on-the-go, they're quick to make, and they're delicious. But for me, the best part is just how incredibly good for you they can be. Check out my article on why smoothies can be so healthy and I'm pretty sure you'll be convinced!

In short, the extra portions of fruit and veg they help us consume have some incredible health benefits, including lowering the risk of developing type 2 diabetes, some cancers, cardiovascular disease, and a lower risk of becoming overweight. Smoothies can also be really high in iron and protein, great news for vegans. And they're perfect for keeping hydrated. So start your day with a healthy smoothie and you'll stay on top of your game! 

Another great thing about smoothies is just how versatile they can be - you can switch up the ingredients depending on what you have in the fridge. This recipe for my go-to green vegan breakfast smoothie is a favourite but I often switch up the ingredients which helps to get a variety of nutrients and flavours each day. 

my go-to green smoothie recipe vegan green breakfast smoothie healthy vegan nutrition

My Go-To Green Breakfast Smoothie

Ingredients:

Ingredients for my go-to green breakfast smoothie - vegan and high in protein

Method:

This bit is really simple. Wash / rinse everything, chop up any larger ingredients, and chuck everything into a blender, topping up with water then adding the protein powder (optional). Blend until smooth then enjoy your healthy green vegan smoothie right away or keep in the fridge for later in the day (may need a stir if leaving 'till later). 

Nutrition:

  • Protein: 15.4g (Women: 30.8% / Men: 28.0%)

  • Iron: 3.9mg (Women: 26.4% / Men: 44.8%)

  • Calories: 277 (Women: 13.9% / Men: 11.1%)

  • Sugars: 29.2 (Women: 32.4% / Men: 24.3%)

  • Total Fats: 3.1g (Women: 4.4% / Men: 3.3%)

  • Saturated Fat: 0.4g (Women: 2.0% / Men: 1.3%)

  • Salt: 0.3g (Women: 5.0% / Men: 5.0%)

  • Fibre: 9.9g (Women: 33.0% / Men: 33.0%)

See the Nutrition Info page for more details on % of Dietary Reference Values for men and women.

Ingredients for my go-to breakfast smoothie - healthy, vegan and high in protein

Blueberry Protein Smoothie Bowl

Vegan blueberry protein smoothie bowl recipe

I have to admit, until quite recently I was a little sceptical of smoothie bowls. I thought they were kind of impractical and just a way that Instagrammers could make their smoothies look better for photos. But having made a few now I've realised they're pretty awesome because: 

  • Using a spoon to eat your smoothie takes much longer than simply drinking it, which really helps control your eating speed

  • You can make smoothie bowls much thicker - this adds variety and it kind of feels like you're having ice cream for breakfast which is obviously a massive morning win

  • You can appreciate the toppings - for example I love kiwi fruit but if it were blended up with the smoothie the flavour would be kind of lost

  • Yes, they look prettier too, but this is actually important because good presentation of food is a major component to the enjoyment of a meal

* A note on protein - it’s absolutely not necessary to use protein supplements just because you’re on a vegan diet. They can however be useful and convenient, especially if you’re regularly weight training, where a higher protein intake can help with building muscle strength and mass - the same reason you’ll often see meat eaters drinking a whey protein shake after the gym! Vivo Life is my favourite vegan protein brand - all their products are vegan, use raw and fermented proteins for improved absorption, are independently tested for heavy metals, and are smooth and taste great! You can use ‘TJ10’ for a 10% discount on your first order with them!

I still drink my smoothies most mornings because time is often short, but when I get the chance I'll definitely be making smoothie bowls more often now. This one was delicious - here's how I made it:

Blueberry Protein Smoothie Bowl

Ingredients (serves 1):

Toppings:

  • 1 fresh kiwi fruit

  • 1 Tbsp toasted almond flakes

  • 2 Tbsp fresh blueberries

  • 1 tsp chia seeds

Method:

Chuck all ingredients in a blender and whizz up until smooth... that's it! You can add a little more water if you want a more liquid consistency, or a few ice cubes to make it thicker. Cut up the kiwi fruit and arrange on top along with the other toppings. It's that simple.

These are great for post-workout refuelling. The natural sugars in the fruits and the protein from the Vega powder, nuts, and seeds is the perfect combination for muscle recovery and growth. 

Nutrition:

  • Protein: 17.8g (Women: 35.6% / Men: 32.4%)

  • Iron: 4.2mg (Women: 28.4% / Men: 48.3%)

  • Calories: 359 (Women: 18.0% / Men: 14.4%)

  • Sugars: 32.9g (Women: 36.6% / Men: 27.4%)

  • Total Fats: 8.4g (Women: 12.0% / Men: 8.8%)

  • Saturated Fats: 0.8g (Women: 4.0% / Men: 2.7%)

  • Salt: 0.3g (Women: 5.0% / Men: 5.0%)

  • Fibre: 13.8g (Women: 46.0% / Men: 46.0%)

See the Nutrition Info page for more details on % of Dietary Reference Values for men and women.