High Protein Gluten-Free Waffles [GF] - Mother's Day 2022 Email Exclusive

Working exclusively with women online + seeing many of my close friends step into this 24/7 role has given me a greater appreciation for just how pivotal women are for our world to grow & thrive. Don't get me wrong, our mothers did it all as well, but now Mom's expected to do more on tighter schedules while looking like they have the Kardashian glam squad thanks to the advances + pitfalls of technology & social media. Mom's these days are spread thinner than ever so anything I can do to help ease that burden is a core part of my mission! And so much of your capacity to do it ‘all’ hinges on health - being depleted of energy or falling into the all-or-nothing perfection trap just makes things worse!

And here's a quick hack that nearly ALL women could benefit from that won't take up much more of your precious time - adding in more protein! Protein is the building blocks for our cells, helps maintain our lean mass AKA muscle [that starts to decline in our mid-30s & very important for metabolism] & helps leave us FULL + satisfied. The basic body functioning minimum is 50g/day but if you're looking for help with weight loss or a maintain/increase muscle then you'll want to be aiming for .8-1.2 g/lb of your lean mass or in laments terms ‘ideal weight’. For sake of ease let's say you think 150 lbs would be a healthy weight for you [this is so nuanced btw] - then you should be consuming right around 150 grams of protein a day. And once you realize how much that is, you'll probably feel drowned in protein so an easier way to start is by getting in at least 20 grams of protein/meal and then work your way up from there.

And without further ado I present a recipe that will help you get in extra protein without feeling drowned by it - my High Protein GF [option] Waffles. These babies each have just under 10 grams of protein per waffle in them - so if you pair them with 2 eggs you're already hitting that 20 gram mark. If you add in a side of animal-based protein or collagen in your coffee you can easily hit 30-35 grams!

Ingredients: [clickable links take you to Thrive, details below on how to get 40% your first order]
⅔ cup Greek Yogurt [plain/unflavored - look for ~16 g of protein/serving]
1 tsp Lemon Juice
5 Large Eggs
¼ Cup Ghee or Coconut Oil, melted to room temperature [may be able to sub butter but you'll need more & I'm unsure of how much]
1 T Honey or Maple Syrup
2 tsp Vanilla Extract
1 ¼ Cup GF Flour [I used Bob's Red Mill but King Arthur's is my new favorite; you can probably substitute AP flour but I haven't tried]
¼ Cup Collagen Peptides [I no longer use Vital Proteins due to heavy metal concerns; Needed is my go-to which I'll link below!]
½ tsp Baking Powder [this one is made without unnecessary aluminum!]
½ tsp Baking Soda
¼ tsp Salt

Whisk the first 3 ingredients together then add melted oil [make sure it's not too hot so you eggs don't start to cook!], honey & vanilla extract. Add in all the remaining ingredients then whisk together until batter comes together with very few clumps [a few are okay].
If you're serious about baking then you can sift these ingredients together in a separate bowl but I'm team less dishes & effort and these have turned out a-okay via the dump method.

Spray waffle iron with an oil based spray [I used macadamia nut here which is apparently no longer available on Thrive but also like ghee or avocado oil-based ones, PLEASE throw away your Pam - it's full of inflammatory chemicals!] then pre-heat to medium on your waffle maker.
 

A handful of years ago I got sick of scraping my stuck waffles off the griddle & invested in this waffle maker, I have had zero issues & don't regret the decision!
 

Place ~⅓ cup of batter into a pre-heated waffle iron & cook until the light indicator goes off [mine even beeps & turns green]; this makes 6 large waffles.
 

Serve with butter, REAL maple syrup [I water mine down to go farther + dilute the sweetness] & fresh berries!

You'll see many of the have linked ingredients are from my the online health food store I adore the most, Thrive Market. If you use my link & sign up you not only get 40% off your first order + a free gift from them but you also get my secret dairy-free [optional] Ranch recipe from me as a ‘Thank you’ for your support! Simply place your order & shoot me a quick email to grab the best & healthiest half-homemade ranch recipe I've found to date!

And here's the link to the collagen peptides I trust. I exclusively use Needed, it's a product of New Zealand grass-fed cows [the strictest standards] and tested for heavy metals, pesticide and antibiotic residue to ensure safety!