Let’s rewind to a couple (ok maybe more than a couple) years back. Do you remember getting off the bus, heading straight to the kitchen and grabbing a delicious bowl of cinnamon toast crunch as an after-school snack? Or maybe you enjoyed yours on an early Saturday morning while watching Recess or another classic cartoon. Either way, that addictive spoonful of cinnamon-packed crunch was so good, right?
photo property of General Mills
Fast forward a couple of years and not much has changed. That 3pm sugar craving hits hard, but now you’re at your work desk, trying to stay focused and awake. Being a little older and more health-conscious, you try to limit your sugar intake as much as you can (with so many inter-office birthdays about).
So now your 3pm hunger-pang is satisfied with a store-bought protein bar with an ingredient list longer than the memo your boss just sent you. Not only is this a relatively expensive habit at about $4 a pop, but these bars are jam-packed with laboratory-esque ingredients you can’t even pronounce.
Don’t worry, we’ve been in the kitchen working out a solution for you. With our mouth-watering, no-bake cinnamon toast crunch protein bars, you’ll feel like you’re transported back to those Saturday morning cartoon-watching days. The best part? This time you’re getting a protein-packed treat that tastes amazing and is made with ingredients you actually know.
Ok, so as promised, here’s the best no bake cinnamon toast crunch protein bars that will revolutionize your 3pm craving going forward. But it doesn’t stop at the office, you can pack these little treats in your bag as an on-the-go snack enjoyed anywhere.
They’re super easy to make, tasty and packed with one of the best whey-based cinnamon proteins on the market, Bright Whey. And while we’d love to take the credit for such a “full chefs kiss* recipe, we have to give credit to Abby from @abbycainfitness for this drool-worth masterpiece.
Ingredients:
Directions:
There you have it! Enjoy them, share them, store them. The choice is yours.
If you’re reading this, chances are you know that all protein is definitely not created equal. As it turns out, some forms of protein are better than others. When we’re presented with all these options on the supermarket’s shelves, how do we know which variety of protein to choose?
Maybe you’ve vibed with a brand’s super cool packaging before (guilty!), only to be left in complete dissatisfaction when it tasted like chalk or found out that the nutrition was not there…at all. We get it, “cool” marketing can be as powerful as a luring Siren’s song. But it’s important to ignore her calls and focus on what’s important: nutrition facts and the source of the protein in the powder.
We’re going to talk about the powerful health benefits of a whey-based protein powder and what it can do for your gains in the gym. To start, whey protein contains an incredible range of essential amino acids, which are absorbed quickly, can help increase strength, gain muscle and even lose significant amounts of body weight (1). Here are our top three reasons why we love a high-quality whey-based protein powder.
Boosts Your Protein and BCAA Intake
We know that proteins are the building blocks of the human body, but they’re also used to make tendons, organs, hormones, enzymes and more important things. And proteins that supply all nine essential amino acids are best since some amino acids are produced by your body’s cells while others come from the food you eat.
The kicker? Whey protein is loaded with amino acids, including branch-chained amino acids (BCAA) like leucine and cysteine. In fact, studies show that leucine is the most growth-promoting amino acid while cysteine can help boost levels of antioxidants. Win-win.
Promotes Increase of Muscle Mass and Strength
It’s no wonder that whey is so popular among bodybuilders, athletes and fitness enthusiasts alike. It provides protein and amino acids which kick off muscle growth, increases the release of hormones like insulin that stimulates muscle growth and whey protein is absorbed within your system much quicker than other types of protein.
May Improve Satiety and Promotes Weight Loss
Protein is known for being a super satiating macronutrient. As such, it’s known to aid in weight loss as you don’t need as much of it to have that “I’m so full i need to unbutton my pants” feeling. In turn, you tend to be more in control of portion sizes. Of course, we are talking about high-quality protein from whole foods or supplements and not your fast-food burger. But you knew that already, right?
According to this study, a high-quality protein like whey can boost energy expenditure by 80-100 calories per day and make people automatically eat up to 440 fewer calories per day. Taking whey protein is a great way to increase your protein intake, especially if you’re trying to lose body fat but still hold on to your muscle mass.
Final Thoughts
Now that you’ve all the information you need, we’re hoping we’ve convinced you to not only utilize whey-protein in your hustle to get the muscle, but also as part of this yummy recipe.
Call it a two-for-one deal, but Bright Whey tastes like a dessert AND it can be used in other recipes too. We’re talking drool-worthy, cinnamon-packed oatmeal, protein pancakes and more. The best part? Since that feeling of a new personal best is sweet enough, there’s no added sugar.
When you try out this recipe, please let us know, girl! Tag us at @ciranutrition.
