Healthy Pancakes for Shrove Tuesday

Pancake Day is here and many will be hitting the kitchen to cook up some tasty treats! Falling on Tuesday 28^th February this year, Pancake Day (Shrove Tuesday) is the last day before the start of Lent where many will commit to giving something up.

Pancakes typically contain ingredients such as butter and eggs that are traditionally forbidden during the period of Lent, so many indulge in these sweet creations just before embarking on their 40 days of abstinence leading up to Easter. Nowadays many give up on chocolate, sweets, alcohol or anything they might consider indulgent – and not just stopping at food and drink! I’ve seen a few give up Facebook for Lent…!

When it comes to food and drink, restricting yourself from things can be very difficult and often lead to a slip where you then may binge on the restricted item. This can lead to some very negative thoughts about failing your task and not being able to stick to something. Now to be honest, I don’t blame you! A period of abstinence is great for mental strength however if this is solely for something like a fat loss goal, it can actually hold you back. When you deprive yourself of something you can often crave it more than normal! Reducing your intake or switching to a healthier alternative can be a far better option.

Now we all know Pancake Day is just one day, so by all means enjoy the celebrations and whip up a pancake storm! Here’s a regular pancake recipe by Jamie Oliver: http://www.jamieoliver.com/recipes/eggs-recipes/easy-pancakes/

BUT, how many of you only eat pancakes on this Shrove Tuesday day, yet would quite happily enjoy them any other time of the year?  Or, do you feel you indulge in pancakes maybe a little too often? They’re so easy to make and can be made in bulk, but unfortunately are pretty calorific (especially once all those toppings have been added).

Well good news! There are also many ways to enjoy pancakes without the hefty calorie bomb attached.  Here’s one very simple healthy recipe – great for breakfast on the go!

All you need is a couple of eggs and a small or medium sized banana!

You need to:

• Blend the ingredients together
• Get a frying pan nice and hot then add a small amount of coconut oil or butter.
• Add in your batter then turn the heat straight down to medium.
• Wait until bubbles start appearing on the pancakes then when you feel ready, flip each of them over.
• Once cooked, dish up and top with yoghurt and berries! You can also store them in the fridge ready for a handy breakfast or snack the following day.

There are many different ways to create a ‘healthy’ pancake, with endless recipes all over the internet, but here are a few ingredient ideas you can play around with to get you started:

• Egg whites (either instead of, or as well as whole eggs)
• Rolled oats (instead of banana – or as well as, for extra carbohydrates)
• Coconut flour – to add bulk if too runny
• Protein powder – extra protein punch and also adds flavour – such as vanilla, chocolate etc.
• Almond or coconut milk to add if too thick (such as when adding extra dry ingredients)
• Vanilla essence (or any other flavour)
• Cinnamon

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