I have to tell you...I am tired today friends. I finally worked up the motivation to get myself to the gym each morning before work. I'm excited and ready to tackle this challenge...but I'm tired. You see, yesterday I not only went to the gym in the morning, but also to my weekly zumba and pilates classes in the evening. So it's no surprise that this morning my tummy is rumblin' and my body is a hurtin'. But can I tell you a secret? It feels pretty fantatic.
On Sunday night, after the recommendation of my friend Kristen, I downloaded the Couch to 5K app for my iTouch. Though I wasn't exactly starting from the couch (I do go for a run a couple days a week), I want to start fresh with training to run. Not only to get 'er done, but to also have a respectable time. I've never been too fond of running but it's something that I'm determined to be good at! And beyond that? I'm going for the 10K!
So it's no wonder that I've been hungry the last few days. Though I've been dabbling in smoothies and bowls of oats, both mixed with protein powder, the routine has gotten a little stale. So I decided to change it up a bit.
My mom originally showed me how to make this quick and easy breakfast, but I've changed it up just a bit to get the most protein, fullness and deliciousness out of this dish! I simply took some old fashioned oats and turn them into a giant flapjack. Oh and in this version, I added a bit of canned pumpkin for some extra umph as well as nutrients, though you can certainly omit it altogether and still come out with a nice sized, hearty pancake. I will tell you, however, that it did not taste overly like pumpkin. Instead it kept the pancake moist without overtaking the flavor. Not to mention the fact that I finally found a healthy pancake option. Want to see how it's done?
Oatmeal Pancake for One
½ C old fashioned oats (you could even use a packet of instant oats)
2 egg whites
½ C canned pumpkin (optional)
1 packet Splenda (you could also use honey or agave nectar)
pinch salt
splash milk (of your choice, I use Almond Breeze)
splash vanilla extract
dash of cinnamon
any other add-ins you like (raisins, chia seeds, pumpkin pie spice, you get the idea)
non-stick cooking spray or a small pat of light butter (recommended)
maple syrup or jam
In a bowl, mix up the oats, egg whites, pumpkin, Splenda, salt, milk, vanilla extract, cinnamon and any other add-ins you like (I also used a dash of ground ginger). In a large skillet, heat up the butter. Pour the mixture into the skillet. It will be very thick, so use a rubber spatula to spread it out into desired thickness. Flip when the bottom comes together and turns golden. Cook through and enjoy with a drizzle of maple syrup or jam.
So there you have it. A super simple breakfast that kept me full for a few hours. What more can you ask for? So what do you think? Are you an oatmeal fan? And while we're on the subject, what's your favorite workout?