Chocolate Protein Breakfast Pudding
Recipe by Chris Newport, Nutritionist & Head Coach
Chocolate pudding for breakfast (and it’s high in protein)? Yes, please!
I’m always on the hunt for “fast” real food options, especially for breakfast, when time is tight. Protein is important in the morning, and one of the hardest things to incorporate into breakfast. It helps keep you full, stabilizes your blood sugar, feeds your muscles, and more. Plus, I love chocolate, so any way I can incorporate it into a meal, I’m game.
If you haven’t heard of Greek yogurt, you might be living under a rock. It’s the thicker, creamier, tangier version of it’s regular counterpart. In fact, it works great as a sub for sour cream in recipes, on top of chili, and more. It still boasts the probiotics and calcium, but it’s lower in sugar (aka lactose) and significantly higher in protein, making it a great choice in this recipe.
When shopping for Greek yogurt, be sure to read labels, as companies often add gels, gums, sugars and more. Personally, I’m a fan of not only the nutritional profile, but also the flavor of Fage Greek Yogurt (pronounced Fa-yeh), which I pick up in the 35oz container (with the “green label” thanks to Harris Teeter!). As it turns out, Cook’s Illustrated also agrees with the flavor of Fage, since it won their fat-free, low-fat and whole-milk taste tests. So if you’ve tried other brands and not liked them, give this one a shot…you won’t be disappointed.
So where’s the chocolate, you ask? Well, since I prefer to be in control of my “fast food,” I simply mix in a scoop of cocoa powder. Be warned…it’s messy, so make sure your bowl is big enough (and you stir slowly) so you’re not wearing your cocoa powder as you mix it.
Next, I add pure vanilla extract and just a pinch of salt to bring out the chocolatey-flavor. For sweetness, I prefer maple syrup, but you can add honey or stevia (or a combination) to find what works best for you, especially if you’re controlling your carb intake. You can also blend in some dates or bananas for natural sweetness with a boost of nutrition (hello, potassium!). In fact, not only does this make a great breakfast, but it makes a great post-workout/recovery treat or dessert (without the guilt!).
Once you get it all mixed together, you can enjoy it right away or leave it overnight for the next morning. I like to add a scoop of peanut butter to make it more like frosting…but don’t get too crazy…or do…
Enjoy!
Chocolate Protein Breakfast Pudding
Ingredients
- 1 cup Fage 2% Plain Greek Yogurt
- 2 T cocoa powder
- 2 tsp maple syrup or sweetener of choice (honey, stevia, banana, dates or a combo)
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- pinch salt
Instructions
- Mix (or blend) all ingredients in a bowl and enjoy immediately or store in the fridge for up to 5 days.
