Are Protein Pancakes Actually Good For You? - Health Digest (2024)

FAQs

Are Protein Pancakes Actually Good For You? - Health Digest? ›

While protein pancakes could indeed end up containing the very carbs and sugars you're trying to avoid, it's easy to work around this with a few healthy substitute ingredients that will give you delicious results. Try a protein pancake recipe that uses egg whites, bananas and a whey protein booster.

They're a Healthy Alternative to Traditional Pancakes

This is because protein pancakes tend to be made with healthier ingredients, such as protein powder, oats, and egg whites. In contrast, regular pancakes are often made with refined flour, sugar, and butter.

With traditional pancakes, the combination of gluten, dairy & refined sugar can lead to a tornado of digestive upset. However, you can replace those ingredients with nutrient-rich, easily digestible alternatives to make a tummy-loving pancake.

Pancakes or waffles

Despite their tasty profile, these comfort foods are often made with refined white flour and topped with butter and syrup, which is essentially pure sugar. This means that pancakes and waffles are high in calories, fat, and sugar, yet lacking in protein and fiber.

Pancakes are a great breakfast option once in a while, but should not be eaten regularly. Pancakes and syrup are carb and sugar-heavy, which may cause you to wish for a nap! Better breakfast options will include eggs and whole grains.

"Kodiak Cakes are made with whole-grain flours, so they are healthier than mixes made with refined flours," he said. However, there are 8 or 9 grams of added sugar per serving in some of the flavors — that's typically higher than other mixes.

Even the best gastroenterologists suggest avoiding items like cream rolls and other high-fat products. Instead, it is better to switch to pancakes, plain bread, bagels, waffles, and muffins (low in fat content.)

The Bottom Line. Unless it's a whole-grain, nut-flecked, bursting-with-berries kind of pancake, I'd usually stick with eggs because they're more inherently nutritious and higher in protein than pancakes made with white flour. The protein will help keep you full longer.

In and of themselves, scrambled eggs are a healthy dish. Eggs are high in protein as well as B vitamins and vitamin D; eggs also contain heart-healthy unsaturated fats. However, when butter, cream, cream cheese, or shredded cheese are added, the calories, cholesterol, and fat content increase.

Are pancakes good for your heart? ›

Pancakes. Pancakes are a delicious breakfast treat that unfortunately can also add fat and sugar to your diet. Changing some of the ingredients can turn a high-calorie breakfast into one that is heart-healthy: Add fiber to your pancakes.

The healthiest breakfast foods include a protein, healthy fat and source of carbohydrates, according to Smolen. For a healthy breakfast, consider eating foods like oatmeal with nut butter, avocado toast with an egg, chia seed pudding or a greek yogurt parfait with nuts and berries.

With “just add water” mixes and packed with 15-21 grams of protein per serving, whole grains, and vitamins and minerals, protein pancakes are a healthy and convenient way to start your day. These hearty pancakes are new on the market, and picking the best can be harder than flipping the actual flapjacks.

Pancakes will boost your carbohydrate intake for the day. Your body uses carbohydrates as a primary source of fuel, so this nutrient is important. But most nutritionists suggest that you get your daily carbs from nutrient dense sources. Pancakes usually don't fall into that category.

The answer is a resounding yes! In fact, incorporating protein powder into your pancake mix is an easy and delicious way to up the protein content without sacrificing taste or texture.

Meal 1: Protein Pancakes

Top with fresh berries or banana slices. The perks: These pancakes pack a mean protein punch without a ton of carbs, perfect for those looking to retain muscle tissue when trying to lean up. The medium- and slow-digesting proteins help keep a steady stream of amino acids to stay more anabolic.

Whizz the banana, oats, eggs, milk, baking powder, cinnamon and protein powder in a blender for 1-2 mins until smooth. Check the oats have broken down, if not, blend for another minute. Heat a drizzle of oil in a pan. Pour or ladle in 2-3 rounds of batter, leaving a little space between each to spread.

Don't skip the flour!

Although you can replace part of the flour with protein powder, you should never replace more than ⅓ of the flour with protein powder. Ideally, you should be aiming to replace just ¼ of the flour with protein. Anything above will get you a dry texture.