High Protein Muffin

This is one of my favorite times of the year: Berry Season. Right around the corner berries will be popping up on every supermarket stand, and at very affordable prices. The taste and aroma of fresh, local berries is one of the most incredible experiences. From strawberries to blueberries to raspberries, there are a plethora of varieties to choose from and enjoy as part of a healthy, balanced diet.

Not only are berries naturally sweet and very versatile for a variety of recipes, but they are also nutritional powerhouses. The beautiful red, blue, and purple hues of berries are indicative of their phytochemicals and flavonoids that are beneficial in disease prevention. The lutein content in berries can help aid in healthy vision and the vitamin C in them can help keep one’s immune system strong. One cup of strawberries contains a mere 53 calories and delivers a healthy dose of calcium, magnesium, folate, and potassium. Because berries are quite low in calories, they make a perfect light dessert, or addition to protein shakes.

Ingredients

1 cup cottage cheese
1 cup egg whites
1 cup oats
2 scoops Protein Powder
1 ˝ cups berries (divided)
pinch baking soda and baking powder
˝ tsp cinnamon
˝ tsp vanilla extract

Preparation

1) Preheat oven to 350°F degrees
2) In a Magic Bullet or blender, blend together all of the ingredients, omitting half of the berries. Once mixed, add in the remaining berries.
3) Spray a muffin tin with cooking spray and pour batter into muffin tin about ľ of the way full.
4) Bake for 15 minutes or until set.

Nutritional Information per muffin (makes 8 muffins)
Calories: 99
Fat: 1 g (9 cal)
Protein: 11.5 g (46 cal)
CHO: 11 g (44 cal)