Banana Chocolate Chip Protein Bites

I'm here to check in with my monthly protein bite recipe!  

We have gotten into a good routine of making these a couple times a month.  They're the best breakfast on the go, snack or treat.  We all love them.

I don't know about you, but I almost always have ripe bananas on hand.  I save them for smoothies, muffins and now for these protein bites.

I think this is my #1 favorite protein bite recipe I have shared with you and I've loved all of them.  

This one just feels so fresh, light and yummy!

 

Banana Chocolate Chip Protein Bites

1 c quick cook oats

1/2 c ground flax seed

1/4 c chia seeds (more than usual!)

1 c peanut butter

1/2 c honey

dash of salt 

1 t cinnamon

2 t vanilla

1 mashed banana

1/2 chocolate chips (mini chocolate chips would be great, too)

Mix everything together, refrigerate and then roll into balls.  Keep them refrigerated and covered.  They'll last for at least a week and still taste great.  

These protein bite recipes are really fun to make with your kids.  Fletcher loved mashing the banana and helping me mix.  We take turns and use this as a fun thing to do on the days that Fletcher is home with me.

 

February: Apple Cinnamon & Chocolate Peanut Butter Protein Bites

January: 10 Ingredient Protein Bites

Would your family enjoy these??

My 6 Healthy Goals

I made a promise to myself in 2021 that I was going to take better care of myself.  Remember hearing my goal of focusing on my health back in January??

I figured it was time for a healthy goal update.  I'm excited to share my progress.  I've kept my promise to myself and have exercised most days in January and February.

Funny story - The kittens love to be near me at all times much like my children.  I learned that I've got to shut the cats out of our bonus room otherwise they hop on the treadmill with me.  Dodging flying kittens takes more coordination than I possess.  They sure are sweet.

Here's what I'm doing:

1. Exercise most days

I'm not crazy about exercising - it doesn't rule my days.  You won't find me talking about it 24/7, but I recognize that I feel better and sleep better when I exercise.  It's a priority and something I work hard to fit in.  I just don't let it ruin my day if I miss a day of exercising.

I got a treadmill for my birthday back in November.  I have really enjoyed having a workout option at home.  I lay Leo down for a nap and hop on the treadmill.  I do a mix of running, walking, speed walking and throw in some inclines.  When I first started at the beginning of the year, I could barely run 2-3 minutes.  Honestly, last year was hard for me - 3 abdominal surgeries, recoveries, new baby, not much sleep, etc.  So this year I knew I'd have to start slow.  I'm happy to report that I can run for 8-9 minutes now.  It fun to track my progress and cheer for me.

2. Eat more veggies

More big salads, more roasted veggies and more meal prep for my family.

3. Get More Sleep

This one is hard for me.  I'm a night owl, but I realized that it's hard to feel my best when I'm going to bed so late.  I'm trying hard to be asleep before midnight most nights.  I've even been known to get into bed in the 11:00 hour instead of 1:00am.  I've already noticed it's easier to get up in the morning and I'm feeling better with more sleep.

4. Keep My Promises to Myself

I used to let anything be an excuse to keep from exercising.  Kids didn't nap great, Tired, Not feeling like exercising... I'd let all of those things stop me.  Now I've make no excuses and add exercise to my daily to do list.  I can feel my mindset shifting and starting to think I GET TO EXERCISE.  Or this is MY TIME.  SELF CARE and INVEST IN YOURSELF.  And it's been great for me.

5. Do What motivates ME

I love cute workout clothes, new tennis shoes, a new pair of jeans when I hit a milestone, etc.  Figuring out what motivates me has helped me work towards my goals. I also love seeing my own progress.

6. Stay Positive

I never ever talk negatively about myself, my body or my exercising to my family.  I want to set the best example for healthy living for my kids.  I talk about eating good food to make sure we feel good, exercising every day to take care of our bodies and exercising to get stronger.  I don't ever focus on losing weight or talking down to myself. 

 

What things do you do to ensure you get to exercise and take care of yourself??

 

I'll end with a little encouragement for moms of littles:

Your days are filled with kids wanting to be by your side as much as possible - right!?!?  Don't let that stop you from exercising.  Include them in your plan.  Two days a week Fletcher is home with me.  Instead of letting that be a road block to exercising, I just bring him along.  He'll play cars around the treadmill or just snuggle by the treadmill as I work out.  I couldn't help but laugh when he plopped himself down right here.  He listened to my playlist and was fine to just be close.  He's just happy to be near me and I'm happy getting to exercise.  We talked about treadmill rules - no touching, etc and he's at a great age to listen.  I'd never exercise with Leo crawling around because he's too little to understand rules like that.

The rest of the days a week I get to work out by myself.  I enjoy the rhythm of both options and am thankful to have options at home to exercise.

 What healthy goals are you working on this year?

Apple Cinnamon & Chocolate Peanut Butter Protein Bites

I am continuing to make protein bites as a healthy snack option for my family.  I shared our recipe for 10 Ingredient Protein Bites in January.  I used the same base recipe this month and changed up the add ins.  We loved the new flavors we came up with.  The recipes are easy and the whole family enjoys snacking on them.  Fletcher and I usually work on these together.  The recipes are kid friendly and just take

 Apple Cinnamon Protein Bites //

1 c quick cook oats

1/2 c ground flax seed

1/8 c chia seeds

1 c peanut butter

1/2 c honey

dash of salt 

2 t cinnamon (double the amount in the usual base recipe)

2 t vanilla

1/2 an apple finely grated (we used a Honey Crisp apple and left on the peeling and use the apple juice that was with the grated apple) 

Directions: Mix all the ingredients together until well combined.  Add the add ins last.  Refrigerate 30-60 minutes and then roll into balls.  Keep refrigerated.  I keep mine in this large measuring bowl with a lid.  Perfect for snacks, adding to school lunches or for breakfast on the go.

 Chocolate Peanut Butter Protein Bites //

1 c quick cook oats

1/2 c ground flax seed

1/8 c chia seeds

1 1/2  c peanut butter (more than the usual base recipe)

3/4  c honey (more than the usual base recipe)

dash of salt 

1 t cinnamon

2 t vanilla

1 T cocoa powder

*This would be a fun recipe to try using crunchy peanut butter or mini chocolate chips!

Directions: Mix all the ingredients together until well combined.  Add the add ins/chocolate last.  Refrigerate 30-60 minutes and then roll into balls.  Keep refrigerated.  I keep mine in this large measuring bowl with a lid.  Perfect for snacks, adding to school lunches or for breakfast on the go.

We loved these new varieties of protein bites!  I'm going to keep trying new protein bite recipes and I'll share a new protein bite recipe in March.