I’ve never been one to count macros, it was just never a concern of mine. I guess I assumed that it was something only body builders and professional athletes had to worry about. BOY WAS I WRONG. I can’t believe how drastically different I feel when I make a serious effort to hit my protein requirements. First off, my sugar cravings are pretty non existent. I typically have a pretty big sweet tooth – I’m the type of person that never says no when the waiter asks if we want to see the dessert menu. But when I hit my protein requirements for the day, I don’t find myself rummaging around through my pantry looking for cookies and snacks. I feel so satiated by the end of the night that I really can’t even think about eating anything else. I find that I really need to start my day with a high protein breakfast to feel my absolute best.
Some of you reading this might be at a point in your lives where you’re skipping breakfast, having a small pastry and coffee, or starting your day with a sweet meal like oatmeal, granola and fruit, sugar forward smoothies, etc. Naturally you may be a little hesitant to make such a big change to your routine. My advice to you is just try to hit a savory high protein breakfast at least once a week, and all the other days you eat as you normally would. That way you can observe and compare how you feel! Some cues to pay attention to - cravings, blood sugar, lightheadedness, bloating, bowel movements, energy, appetite, and much more.
I went to the farmers market this week and magically scored the last container of squash blossoms. I felt like I won the lottery (they typically sell out by like 9 am and lord knows I don’t get there till like noon) Normally I would stuff the squash blossoms with goat cheese, ricotta, mozzarella, batter them and lightly pan fry them and have as a little snack. But I needed something easy, nutritious, and filling like this yummy breakfast quesadilla.
Ingredients:
3 organic eggs (18g protein)
2 oz mozzarella and/or cheddar (16g of protein)
3-4 squash blossoms (prickly pieces removed)
1 small onion or shallot sliced
1 garlic clove
1 tortilla (I used Ezekiel Sprouted Whole Grain Tortillas) (7g protein)
pinch of cilantro and jalapeño slices
Optional: 1 ripe summer tomato + salad greens
I was today years old when I realized cheese is high protein….This is what 2 oz of cheese looks like (3 thin slices of raw block cheddar) providing me with an unbelievable 16g of protein! If you can’t tell, I am over the moon about this discovery lol
This recipe is more for inspiration than it is about “how to make a breakfast quesadilla”. But if it helps this is what I did!
Instructions:
Preheat your oven to 325º F
Sauté onion in olive oil til soft and translucent, then add minced garlic, zucchini blossoms and salt + pepper, cooking until blossoms are heated all the way through.
Scramble eggs until still very soft and “wet”
Add cheese on top of the eggs, reduce heat to lowest setting and cover for a few minutes until cheese melts.
Warm your tortilla in the oven for a few seconds until it is soft and pliable.
Layer everything on one side of the tortilla, eggs, blossom mixture, jalapeño slices, and chopped cilantro. I added a few splashes of my favorite hot sauce for extraaa flavor.
Fold tortilla, cut in half and enjoy with a fresh side salad.