When I started realizing I wasn’t eating enough protein, breakfast was a meal I struggled to add protein to the most.

Until I realized how quick and easy protein French toast is. Now it’s my go-to breakfast, packed with protein and, if you’re using bread made with fresh flour, you’re also getting tons of fiber, enzymes, antioxidants, and all kinds of vitamins as well.

Why add protein to French toast?

Well, simply put, our bodies need protein. Given that protein is very hyped up right now, I’m sure you’ve heard most of the classic reasons to eat more protein. Feel more full, build and maintain muscle, loose weight, all typical answers.

But, for me, the reason I try to eat more protein is because I feel really good when I do. When I’m not eating enough protein? I’m more sluggish, irritable, don’t sleep as well, and the list goes on.

For me, adding protein to my French toast (or any breakfast, really) is about feeling good. Or, the reverse of feeling sluggish when I don’t get my protein in.

Protein breakfast ideas (aside from protein French toast)

While protein French toast is one of my favorite high-protein breakfasts, I don’t make it every day. Here are some other high-protein breakfast ideas. Also see 17 creative ways to use protein powder.

1. Add protein powder to your coffee, latte, or oatmeal to pair with your breakfast.
2. Make a cheesy egg souffle the night before and cook it when you wake. Serve with kielbasa or sausage for extra protein.
3.  Enjoy a Greek yogurt parfait, with protein powder mixed in for extra protein. (Lemon protein is my favorite yogurt mix-in!)
4. Make an omelette with anything you have leftover in your fridge from steak or porkchop to chopped peppers, onions, and/or spinach.
5. Eat lunch/dinner leftovers for breakfast. I’ve surprisingly become a savory breakfast person, and I’ve found that leftovers from the day before often hit the spot for breakfast.

These are just a few high-protein breakfasts that are in my regular rotation. Remember to be creative, find foods you actually enjoy eating, and change it up often to keep healthy eating interesting.

Can I make protein French toast ahead of time?

I’ve often stored leftover (pre-mixed) French toast batter in the fridge for a few days. So if it helps or saves you time, feel free to mix together the batter ingredients the night before, cover, and store in the fridge to use the next day.

If you’re looking to save time in the morning, you can also slice and set aside the amount of bread you’ll need for your French toast the next morning.

Any leftover (cooked) French toast also makes great breakfasts for the week. So feel free to batch cook a bunch of French toast, store it in the fridge, and heat it up throughout the week. Boom. Easy. High protein. Yummy. Breakfast is served.

What flavors can I make my protein French toast?

The combinations of flavors you can make are almost endless. Who knew protein French toast was so customizable?

Some of my favorite mix-ins for protein French toast include:

• Ground cinnamon (about 1 teaspoon per batch)
• Vanilla extract, powder, or paste
• Cacao powder (for chocolate flavor and extra nutrients!)
• Peanut butter (I like about 1 tablespoon per batch)
• Maple syrup OR maple extract (syrup in the batter and served on the finished product never hurt anyone, did it?)
• Kale or Spinach powder (for green color and a nutrient boost!)

Another simple way to mix up the flavor of your French toast is by changing what flavor of protein powder you’re using. Classic Vanilla Bean is usually my go-to French toast protein powder. But my favorite brand of protein powder also sells a Chai flavor that makes a deliciously warm, cozy, comforting Chai French toast. Other favorite flavored protein powders to use in French toast are Strawberries & cream, Salted Caramel, Snickerdoodle, chocolate, and more.

Is French toast healthy?

French toast can be a healthy, well-rounded breakfast. If you’re adding protein to your French toast, or enjoying it with a protein source, you’re enjoying a delicious, healthy breakfast also packed with protein. But there are always ways to beef your French toast up to get as much nutrients out of it as you can.

We’re all trying to get more nutrients into our diet, no? And if there are simple ways to eat more nutrition in one serving of French toast that we were going to eat anyways, why not, right?

1. Add dehydrated spinach or kale powder to your French toast batter.
2. Add adaptogens like Ashwagandha, Lions Mane, or Macha root.
3. Use fresh milled, homemade bread for your French toast. (Did you know that fresh flour contains 40 out of 44 of the essential nutrients your body needs to survive and thrive?)
4. Serve your French toast with high-quality butter for healthy fats, and berries for extra fiber.
5. Enjoy your French toast with real maple syrup–which is actually rich in antioxidants. (skip “sugar free” syrups, and other chemical-laden sugar products!)
6. Add extra eggs to your French toast batter for extra protein.

Best bread to use for protein French toast

While any bread can be used for French toast, there are some that work better.

The healthiest bread choice would be fresh milled, homemade bread. This is the recipe I use for my brioche bread perfect for French toast. I simply shape the dough into sandwich loaves instead of rolls and it works beautifully. I often slice and freeze and leftover bread I have sitting around going stale, and save it up until I have enough for a batch of French toast.

My all-time favorite French toast is made with cinnamon raisin bread, sliced thick. I simply make the dough recipe linked above with raisins added into the dough, spread the dough with cinnamon/sugar/butter mixture before rolling into a loaf and letting rise and cooking. Perfect for cinnamon swirl raisin French toast.

But pretty much any bread with work for yummy French toast.

How to make protein French toast

Making protein French toast is so simple, quick, and easy. In fact, I can whip up a batch of protein French toast even when I’m half asleep on a Monday morning. It’s that simple.

1. Crack and egg into a bowl.
2. Pour roughly 2 tablespoons of milk overtop.
3. Add your protein powder.
4. Whisk together.
5. Dip your bread into the mixture and cook on a preheated skillet.
6. Enjoy your easy, high-protein French toast.

Even typing that into 6 steps makes it look harder than it really is. The great thing about this recipe is that it’s also super customizable to taste and number of servings. This general recipe will usually feed 1-2 people, depending on how hungry you are. If you need to feed 2-3 people, just make this recipe with 2 eggs instead of one, and 2 scoops of protein powder. Honestly, not needing to do math in order to customize this recipe is another bonus.

How to add protein powder to French toast

Adding protein powder to French toast is a great way to up your protein intake, and take a healthy breakfast to the next level.

And adding protein powder to French toast is as simple as mixing it into your milk and egg. I like to add one scoop of protein powder (22 grams of protein from the scoop of powder I use!) to each 1 egg and 1-2 tablespoons of milk I use. I find that 1 egg, 2 tablespoons of milk, and 1 scoop of protein powder make either 1 large serving or two small servings. Perfect for one person on a hungry weekend, or two people on a faster-paced weekday.

The flavor of protein powder you can add to French toast are pretty much endless. My personal favorites are vanilla, chocolate, strawberry or chai.

Print

Protein French Toast

Servings 1 large serving

Ingredients

• 1 large egg
• 2 tablespoons milk
• 1 scoop protein powder* about 3 tablespoons

Instructions

• Whisk together all three ingredients until a smooth batter is formed.
• Heat a large, heavy-bottomed skillet over med-high heat.
• Dip your bread of choice into the batter, letting it sit for a second to soak.
• Grease your hot skillet and cook each French toast slice until cooked through and golden brown on both sides.
• Enjoy hot with toppings of choice.

Notes

*One scoop of my favorite protein powder is roughly 3 tablespoons. Use code "soulyrested" to save $$ if you place an order.

Depending on how hungry you are, this might make two servings. You can easily double, triple, or quadruple this recipe to feed more people.

Protein powder to use in French toast:

More like protein French toast:

• Protein latte recipe
• 17 creative ways to use protein powder
• Country style pork ribs recipe
• Homemade tortillas with fresh milled flour

The post Protein French Toast Recipe first appeared on Souly Rested.

I drank (and enjoyed) my not-coffee tea for over a year before my daughters convinced me it, truly, tastes EXACTLY like coffee, and therefore I would, in fact, like “real” coffee if I gave it a try. They were right.

Now I enjoy all three–tea (of course), coffee (still getting used to being a coffee-liker), and my chicory not-coffee tea (that tastes like coffee + has tons of added benefits). Now when I make lattes, I try to add additional health benefits. Enter this Protein latte.

A high-protein vanilla latte? Yes, please.

Now, I’m usually more of a chocolate girl, so this high-protein peppermint mocha is my go-to protein latte, but this vanilla latte is my go-to when I want to switch it up. Also, if you want to use chicory to make a mocha frappe, here’s my recipe for that.

Protein latte: flavor options

If you’re using flavored protein power in your latte, you’re only limited in flavors by the protein powder you can find. You can also easily use plain protein powder. Then add your own syrups and flavors to make any kind of protein latte your heart desires.

In fact, one of my favorite protein lattes is a simple shaken brown sugar latte (just like Starbucks but without the crazy sugar and with an extra 30+ grams of protein!). I just use plain protein powder in my latte, and shake my espresso in a jar with coconut sugar, a splash of sorghum syrup (or molasses), cinnamon, and ice. Pour over milk. Boom. Homemade high-protein shaken brown sugar latte.

While peppermint mocha and vanilla are my personal favorite high-protein latte flavors, there are tons of options. Some other great favorites are;

1. high-protein salted caramel latte
2. a just chocolate protein latte
3. protein snickerdoodle latte
4. and even a creamy peanut butter & chocolate protein latte.

Is protein powder good in lattes?

Some folks worry adding protein powder to a latte will make it chalky or clumpy. As long as you’re using a high quality protein and frothing it into your liquid well, your protein latte will be delicious. Clump- and chalk-free.

In fact, I personally think protein lattes are even more delicious than non-protein lattes! If you’re making a hot latte, I swear the protein powder makes the milk even frothier and creamier, not to mention the flavor it adds!

Why add protein to lattes?

I’m so glad you asked. While there are a million reasons to add a high-quality protein powder to your daily latte, I’ll list my top 5 reasons:

1. Getting in the habit of adding protein powder to your lattes will help you get more protein in every single day. Protein is so important for reaching or maintaining a healthy weight, building or maintaining muscle (nobody wants to loose muscle!), feeling full, satiated, and content after meals, and for building and maintaining healthy and balanced cells and hormones.
2. Making protein lattes offers so many fun flavor options. Even more than just using sauces or syrups, adding protein to your latte allows you to keep tons of fun, shelf-stable latte flavorings on-hand and switch up your lattes!
3. If you’re using the right protein powder, you’ll benefit from not only the extra protein, but also be getting added vitamins and minerals in your life! The protein powder I use contains 5 different sources of protein, including chia seeds, pumpkin seeds, and collagen. They’re all extremely nourishing in different ways.
4. Your protein latte just might help you achieve glowing skin, healthier nails, and longer, thicker, silkier hair! If you use a protein powder with added collagen, your hair, skin, and nails will thank you!
5. No added sugar in your lattes. Using a high-quality protein powder in my lattes helps me cut down on my sugar consumption because I don’t need to add ANY extra sugar to my lattes–just protein powder.

Can I make a protein latte hot or iced?

Protein powder can be added to any latte or coffee drink. In my experience, hot lattes do dissolve the protein powder just a tad easier and quicker than iced lattes. But with some frothing, protein powder can easily be added to either an iced or a hot latte for a flavorful, protein-packed drink.

Protein latte recipe

Making a protein latte is really easy. Fortunately, all you need is an espresso maker, milk, and a good protein powder.

I love this stovetop espresso maker because it’s cheap, easy to use, and small and easy to store.

I use this protein powder because it’s free of any junk and comes in so many amazing flavors. The code “soulyrested” will save you moolah.

Instructions to make protein vanilla latte

You need to know this about coffee…

I’ve been an avid tea drinker for a long time. And then when I discovered I liked coffee, I still tried to limit my coffee intake because I was getting headaches and some dizziness when I had too much coffee in a day–but I loved the taste of coffee! So that’s why I turned to coffee alternatives, like this drink.

–> However, it turns out the headaches I was getting were from using poor quality coffee. Who knew that coffee is the most heavily chemically treated crop in the world? Unless you’re purchasing organic coffee, you’re likely drinking lots of pesticides with your daily cup of joe. I think those pesticides were the reason I was getting coffee headaches. So now I use this stuff and–boom–no more headaches. Now I enjoy my protein lattes, headache-free.

Did you also know that coffee naturally grows in shade, but most commercial coffee farms force it to grow in sun? Shade-grown coffee not only tastes better, but is so much better for the soil. Plus, this coffee I’ve come to love is also tested for mold, so you won’t be getting any mold OR pesticides in your coffee or lattes. It’s also low-acid which makes it better for your teeth and mouth microbiome, as well.

If you want to make the switch to regeneratively-shade-grown, low-acid, organic, mold-free coffee (that’s a mouthful!), use the code “soulyrested” to save some cash.

Print

Protein Vanilla Latte

Ingredients

• 1-2 shots espresso depending on how strong you like your lattes
• 1-2 cups milk
• 1 scoop vanilla protein powder

Instructions

• Brew your espresso & heat your milk (if desired).
• Add your espresso to your favorite mug or cup.
• Into the milk froth one scoop of vanilla protein powder.
• Pour the milk over the espresso and enjoy!

things you need to make a protein latte

Also, we love these large glass cups for iced lattes.

More like protein vanilla latte:

• High-protein peppermint mocha latte
• Homemade tea that tastes like coffee
• DIY coke… yes you can make your own soda!
• Mocha frappe without coffee
• Healthy hot chocolate mix
• Delicious high protein cacao smoothie

Love making your own drinks? Try my DIY coke or my homemade root beer recipes!

Pin this for later!

The post Protein Latte: Easy Vanilla Latte at Home first appeared on Souly Rested.

And most days, I still drink my healthy homemade tea that tastes like coffee rather than a “real” cup of joe. But when I find delicious ways to make healthy mocha lattes at home that also help me get my protein in? Yes, please. The first time I made this high protein peppermint mocha latte, I couldn’t believe how good it tasted. Now it’s a staple holiday drink year after year.

How to make a high protein peppermint mocha latte at home

We all love a good overpriced coffee shop mocha latte. But for those times when you want to make a tasty, healthy, cheaper drink at home, this recipe is my go-to, and will probably become yours too.

You’ll need some kind of espresso maker to make lates at home. I personally use a stainless steel stovetop espresso maker, which works really well and–as a bonus–is under $30. Other than that, you’ll need some milk, peppermint syrup, protein powder, and a really good mug (I’m kind of a mug snob).

Just like that you’re on your way to enjoying 30+ grams of protein in the form of a delicious homemade mocha latte.

How much protein is in a latte?

An average latte made with whole milk will only have about 8-10 grams of protein. If you add a high-quality protein powder, you can add an additional 20-30 grams of protein, making your daily cup of joe a protein-packed powerhouse with over 30 grams of protein total.

Can I add protein powder to a latte?

You can easily add any protein powder to a latte by simple frothing it into your milk. I do find that most protein powders tend to froth more easily into warmed milk for hot lattes, but iced ones can be made as well. This allows you to easily add 20-30 grams of protein to a humble latte. If you’re picky about the ingredients in your protein powder the way I am, this is my favorite protein powder in the world, free of any junk (code “soulyrested”).

How to add protein to my coffee?

One simple way is to add protein powder. Keep in mind that super hot coffee (or milk) might make the protein powder clump a little bit, so just wait a minute until the drink cools off a bit before frothing the protein powder into it. Especially if you’re using a high-quality protein powder like this one, it may contain chia seeds as a protein source, which can gel when they get too hot.

How to make an iced high protein peppermint mocha

This latte can easily be made hot or iced. If you want a hot latte, you’ll need to heat your milk, add protein powder, and froth them together before adding to your espresso. If you’d like an iced latte, simply froth your protein powder into cold milk, pour over ice, and add your espresso. It’s delicious either way!

Is a DIY high protein peppermint mocha latte as good as a coffee shop?

Most coffee shop drinks taste really good. So good, in fact, that it can feel impossible to match their flavor with homemade drinks. But keep in mind that the main reason coffee shop drinks like peppermint mochas taste so good is because they’re loaded with refined sugar. And that’s fine, on occasion. But when it comes do your daily coffee, your make-over-and-over drinks, you’re going to want to make them taste good, yes, but with less sugar.

This recipe tastes amazing, has no refined sugar, and-as a bonus-has over 30 grams of protein. Can you say “healthy daily latte that also tastes incredible?”

Is a stovetop espresso maker worth it?

When I started enjoying coffee, I started looking up ways to make good espresso (for lattes) at home. I googled espresso machines and was shocked at the price tag on most of them. Spending hundreds of dollars on a coffee maker wasn’t what I had in mind, so I researched until I happened upon this stainless steel stovetop espresso maker. Jackpot! It checked all the boxes, and makes espresso quickly and easily. Boom–killer lattes right at home, and all for under $30!

Maybe someday I’ll invest in a super fancy espresso maker, but for now I’d say stovetop espresso makers are totally worth it. (Also, who needs fancy anyways? We’re just trying to make tasty lattes at home!)

You need to know this about coffee…

I’ve been an avid tea drinker for a long time. And then when I discovered I liked coffee, I still tried to limit my coffee intake because I was getting headaches and some dizziness when I had too much coffee in a day–but I loved the taste of coffee! So that’s why I turned to coffee alternatives, like this drink.

–> However, it turns out the headaches I was getting were from using poor quality coffee. Who knew that coffee is the most heavily chemically treated crop in the world? Unless you’re purchasing organic coffee, you’re likely drinking lots of pesticides with your daily cup of joe. I think those pesticides were the reason I was getting coffee headaches. So now I use this stuff and–boom–no more headaches. Now I enjoy my protein lattes, headache-free.

Did you also know that coffee naturally grows in shade, but most commercial coffee farms force it to grow in sun? Shade-grown coffee not only tastes better, but is so much better for the soil. Plus, this coffee I’ve come to love is also tested for mold, so you won’t be getting any mold OR pesticides in your coffee or lattes. It’s also low-acid which makes it better for your teeth and mouth microbiome, as well.

If you want to make the switch to regeneratively-shade-grown, low-acid, organic, mold-free coffee (that’s a mouthful!), use the code “soulyrested” to save some cash.

Print

High protein peppermint mocha latte

Ingredients

• 1-2 shots espresso* depending on how strong you like your lattes
• 1 tablespoon peppermint syrup*
• 1 cup milk
• 1 scoop mint chocolate protein powder*

Instructions

• Brew your espresso & heat your milk.
• Add your espresso to your favorite mug along with 1 tbsp homemade peppermint syrup (see notes). Stir.
• Into the milk froth one scoop of Just Ingredients mint chocolate protein powder.
• Pour the milk over the espresso and enjoy!

Notes

*Although someday I might invest in a FANCY espresso maker, right now this stainless steel stovetop espresso maker works amazingly well for me and is under $30. Win-win.

*I'm very picky about my protein powder, and I only ever use this one. The code "SOULYRESTED" will save you cash. And Mint Chocolate isn't the only flavor I love in lattes either. Other great flavors are vanilla bean, chocolate, snickerdoodle, Neapolitan, salted caramel, and more.

*You can use premade peppermint syrup or easily make your own. My recipe for peppermint syrup can be found here.

Flavor ideas for High Protein lattes:

If you want to try other flavors of high protein lattes, just switch up the flavor protein powder you’re using!

Use the code “SOULYRESTED” on all Just Ingredients orders to save $$.

More like High Protein Peppermint Mocha Latte:

• Healthy homemade tea that tastes like coffee
• Homemade peppermint syrup
• DIY coke… yes you can make delicious homemade soda
• Healthy Hot Chocolate Mix
• How to make a Mocha Frappe without coffee

The post High Protein Peppermint Mocha Latte first appeared on Souly Rested.

btw, if I had you at “mint chocolate” you definitely need my Mint Chocolate Chip Ice Cream (with no refined sugar!) in your life.

Mint Chocolate Chip Protein Shake

This shake is one of my favorite treats for a summer afternoon… but who am I kinding? I love it in the dead of winter too.

The addition of cacao nibs to this smoothie makes it my hands-down, all-around favorite shake. To pump up the nutrition I’ll add a few handfulls of spinach if I have it and some fresh mint if it’s growing in my garden.

But I’m not gonna lie, this shake is yummy with just 3 ingredients too: milk, protein powder, and frozen banana

BONUS: leftovers turn into the most amazing protein ice pop. I show you how in this video: Mint Chocolate Ice Pops

What is a protein shake?

Protein is a hot topic right now. Folks are finally starting to realize that while protein is super important for us, we often aren’t getting enough. Enter powdered protein, stage right. With high-protein food powdered into a flavored mix, we can add it to all kinds of things (not just a milkshake… think pancakes or coffee or hot chocolate).

Protein shakes are often made from eggs, milk, soybeans, or rice. But the tricky part is finding out the other ingredients such as artificial flavoring, thickeners, and added sugar (lots of added refined sugar). In most cases, you’ll get 10-20 grams of protein in a scoop.

But my favorite protein powders are different. Like night and day different…

How to choose a protein powder?

If you want to be using a protein powder that’s actually good for you (not loaded with sugars and artificial ingredients that are whipped up in a lab), ask a few questions.

Does it have multiple sources of protein?

The more sources of protein a powder contains, the easier it is for your body to absorb the protein. (And, afterall, if your body can’t absorb the protein, there’s no reason to be adding it to your food, right?) All of these protein powders contain 4-5 different sources of protein,

‌How is it flavored?

Typically, a protein powder relies on artificial flavors. But these protein powders are flavored with real foods like organic cacao, vanilla beans, strawberries, etc. not artificial (or “natural”) flavors mixed up in a lab.

‌Does it have any added “junk”?

I was first interested in these protein powders because I realized that they have zero junk–NO artificial dyes, flavors, or sweeteners. They also has no added fillers or junk, which can mess with your gut. I worked too hard to improve my gut health (mainly with homemade kombucha) to randomly drink things that kill the good bacteria in my gut.

‌Ask about the whey…

Does your protein powder company source their protein from the by-products of cheesemaking? If so, you’re loosing out. These protein powders are made with 100% grass-fed non-denatured whey protein, sourced directly from milk, not the by-products of cheesemaking. This means the amino acids are still intact, making it easier to absorb & digest.

Bonus, it’s free of casein and low in lactose which makes it a great option for those that are typically sensitive to whey products.

‌Is it made with stevia?

This could be a bad thing… because the processed stevia you typically find on the market has been through a 42-step process, and often causes gut issues. In fact, a lot of you will reach out to me every time I mention protein powder over on instagram and tell me you can’t use protein powder because of what it does to your stomach. I’m always happy to explain that THIS protein powder is very different. It’s sweetened with crushed up stevia leaf… that’s it. ONE ingredient. In fact, it’s the very same way I often sweeten a cup of tea, adding zero calories. I link to the stevia leaf I use below.

Are drinking protein shakes good for you?

Is it OK to drink 1 protein shake every day?

I often have 1 protein shake a day. They fill you up with good stuff, helping you not eat junk food. And–the real reason I started drinking protein shakes–they help maintain muscle mass, which has been important for me in my 50s. Because people need extra protein as they age.

Mint Chocolate Chip Protein Shake Recipe

Grab my Pantry Checklist & lots of great deals on great ingredients

I am happy to share my pantry checklist with you because I firmly believe real food can be much more “doable” and convenient to make if we just make sure to have the important staples on hand.

I also firmly believe we all need to keep some moolah in our pockets whenever possible, so I’ve filled my pantry checklist with exclusive discount codes as well.

Go here to grab yours right now. It will take about 4 seconds & instantly save you time and money.

More drinks you’ll love:

• Top 5 healthy drinks you need in your life
• Healthy hot chocolate mix
• DIY Coke: make delicious homemade soda
• Maple chocolate iced “coffee”

What you’ll need to make this Mint Chocolate Chip Protein Shake

Talk to me about your mint chocolate chip protein shake…

If you have questions, leave a comment below. And please tag me on ig to show me your shake @souly.rested.

“He satisfies the thirsty and fills the hungry with good things.” Psalm 107:9

Find out why SoulyRested was considered to be one of the One of the Top Homesteading Blogs. Glance at my Resource Page if you’d like to get a glimpse of all the supplies I use and recommend for everything from gardening, to sugarmaking, to chicken care, to baking.

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The post Mint Chocolate Chip Protein Shake first appeared on Souly Rested.