This high protein oatmeal recipe is what I make before my long runs. Your choice of Quaker oats or steel-cut plus banana and blueberry to sweeten naturally! This high protein breakfast keeps me more full, longer. Add homemade almond milk for an extra protein boost!
In an effort to keep my weight (a.k.a. blogger butt) under control, I took up running about a year ago.
After running consistently for a few weeks, my husband asked if I had a running goal in mind.
“Well, no. To be honest, I don’t really WANT to run. I just want to fit in my pants,” is what I said to him. In my BRAIN.
But somehow, “I think I want to run a marathon,” came out of my MOUTH.
And now I’m making marathon training high protein oatmeal every Saturday morning…
Why Make High Protein Oats?
Since the accidental spillage of these words, I have come to enjoy the idea of finishing a marathon.
(Notice I said finishing, not running… if we could skip forward to the medals and free ice cream, I wouldn’t think twice!)
What I didn’t realize though, is that running a marathon is so much more than just running 26.2 miles.
- It’s training your legs to keep going, and going, and going…
- Talking yourself into running even when you don’t feel like it (and NOT talking yourself out of it).
- Figuring out where to run so you don’t get tired of seeing the same surroundings, mile after mile…
- Knowing how to fuel your body, and when, so that when you hit the pavement for your long run – whether it’s 7 miles or 17 miles – your body can handle it.
Really though, the same concepts apply to any sport.
You can’t eat a couple of strawberry lemonade donuts and expect them to hold you over for the next couple hours as you expel every ounce of energy you have. (Save those for non-training days!)
If you want to perform at your best – whether that’s a specific sport, a workout at the gym or just working your brain hard at school all day – you MUST fuel your body with the right balance of good food.
For me, that has become a special nutrient-rich oatmeal recipe that I affectionately call marathon training high protein oatmeal.
What is High Protein Oatmeal?
This oatmeal recipe looks similar to almost every other oatmeal recipe, including overnight oats… on the outside. However:
- We’ve tucked some serious nutrition and protein boosters INSIDE that make this high protein breakfast the perfect way to prepare for strenuous activity.
- The portion is just right for a hearty protein breakfast that satisfies you without weighing you down as if you ate a million pancakes.
- Strategically combining frugal ingredients helps to keep the grocery budget under control (one of the vital components I teach in my course Grocery Budget Bootcamp. Enrollment is currently closed, but you can join my FREE 5-day Crush Inflation Challenge and start saving money on groceries tomorrow!).
The best part is that this bowl of oatmeal is naturally gluten-free!
How to Make Marathon Training High Protein Oatmeal
Here is a break down of the ingredients:
- Steel-cut Oats. Steel-cut oats and rolled oats are nearly identical in nutrition and have 6 grams of protein. If our muscles are going to work now AND later, protein is a must.
- Eggs. One whole egg (not just the egg whites) gives a protein boost AND an impressive line-up of amino acids and health benefits. Don’t worry though – you won’t taste the egg. Promise!
- Collagen. Instead of adding protein powder, I use collagen. This is the brand I use, but please read my review of two popular brands of collagen peptides before buying!
- Flaxseed. Flax adds a sweet nutty taste that is THE BOMB with the bananas. Of course, flax has some amazing health benefits, including clearing your skin and improving your digestion. You can also substitute chia seeds but they will change the texture!
- Banana & Berries. Banana is crazy high in potassium, which helps keep your muscles strong and prevent cramping. All berries are a great source of antioxidants, but let’s be honest –they taste good too!
- Maple Syrup. I top it off with a SLIGHT drizzle of maple syrup. You can mix it all up if you want, but there’s something indulgent about teetering bites of oatmeal with and without the sweet maple flavor.
Wait – did I just say “oatmeal” and “indulgent” in the same sentence?
Oh yes my friends, we’re kicking plain ‘ol oatmeal to the curb and getting our training on with high protein oatmeal!
Want to Boost the Protein Even More?
- Try adding a tablespoon of extra creamy peanut butter (or almond butter) or nut flour!
- Use almond milk (learn how to make it homemade here) or coconut milk instead of water.
- Stir in a little greek yogurt or oat milk to add protein.
Do you need more High Protein Breakfast Ideas?
Add any of these favorites to your meal plans:
- Basic Green Smoothie Recipe
- Homemade Breakfast Sausage
- Paleo Almond Flour Pancakes
- Protein Blender Pancakes
- Protein Chocolate Blender Waffles
- Cinnamon Oatmeal Blender Waffles
- The Best Scrambled Egg Recipe
Watch How to Make High Protein Oatmeal
High Protein Oatmeal
This high protein oatmeal recipe is what I make before my long runs. Your choice of Quaker oats or steel-cut plus banana and blueberry to sweeten naturally! This high protein breakfast keeps me more full, longer.
- Prep Time: 5 mins
- Cook Time: 15 mins
- Total Time: 15 mins
- Yield: 1 1x
- Category: Breakfast
- Method: Stove top
- Cuisine: American
Ingredients
- 1/2 cup water
- 1/8 tsp salt
- 1/4 cup steel cut oats
- 1 egg
- 1 scoop grass-fed collagen (this is the brand I recommend)
- 1 Tbsp flaxseed
- 1/2 banana, sliced (for serving)
- 1/4 cup fresh berries (for serving)
- 1–2 tsp maple syrup, if desired (for serving)
Instructions
- Bring water and salt to a boil in a small saucepan.
- Add oats and reduce heat to medium-low, stirring occasionally.
- When the oats have absorbed ALL the water, remove from the heat. Crack an egg into the oats and immediately begin stirring. The egg will gently cook from the heat of the oatmeal.
- When the egg is thoroughly combined, add collagen powder and flaxseed and stir thoroughly.
- Top with flaxseed, banana, berries and maple syrup if desired.
I’ve read somewhere else that you have to grind flax seed to get all the nutrition (the seeds go through you like corn) – have you heard/read that as well? Your recipe didn’t call for them to be ground so I wondered if maybe you knew something different.
You are correct. You need to grind them as they do not break down in the digestive tract if left whole.
I bought Perfect Collagen powder in the unflavored type. It literally stinks. Do you think I got a bad can? I am choking it down but Ive got 2 cans to go still (bought during a huge sale). Thats months of daily YUCK. I am so disappointed as I thought it would be ok since its so well loved, and I could put it in my coffee. It ruins my coffee so I put it in shots of water now and chug it. Blech
Hi Helene! I would contact Perfect Supplements. I’ve NEVER had a bad batch from them, and their customer service is such a pleasure!!
Almond “milk” has no protein, I think its 1g per cup. Theres basically nothing in almond “milk”. No fat, no calcium. The calcium added is not absorbable. I dont get why ppl ingest it. Eat a few almonds and drink water.
Oh, man. I love a good bowl of oatmeal. This is delicious and your definitely can’t taste the egg
By the way, your link to your collagen review is broken.
Do you have the nutritional info for this?
I have ALWAYS been a BIG oatmeal fan. Now I am reading that there is glyphosphate (may be misspelled, but it is the Monsanto weed killer) in all oat cereals. I read that it includes the steel cut oats, as well. Do you know if there is a true chemical free oats to purchase??
It’s not in all oat cereals Faye, there are a few that were tested and came back clean. There are several articles on the web, but this is a good starting place! https://www.nj.com/news/index.ssf/2018/08/only_these_5_breakfast_cereals_were_found_free_of.html
I cook my steel cut oats in milk, which also adds protein.
That’s a great idea too Annette! Thank you for sharing!
Oh, I’ll have to try this recipe! I’m training for a marathon too and fueling has been my biggest struggle! Do you eat anything during your long runs?
Hey hey Elizabeth – congrats on signing up! I’m testing fueling during my long runs now. I’ve ruled out just water, and ruled in the need for an electrolyte drink along the way (with water, for mouth feel). I’ve tested larabars for quick sugar, but since I can get that in the electrolyte, I’m now testing protein. So far I’ve tested the Clif Mojo bar – 1/4 bar every 3 1/2 mi or so. That was for a 10 mile run and I still had 1/4 of the bar left for post-run. I want to try other options, like cheese-stick or nuts, but I think my body heat will melt the cheese (haha!) and the nuts rattling in the pouch might drive me crazy, lol. But I can say, that this method of electrolyte + protein snack left me in SO MUCH BETTER condition than just water + 1/2 larabar mid-point on my previous 12 mile run. I won’t do that again. Next week I’m trying 1 bottle homemade electrolyte, 1 bottle water + pre-cut bars since breaking them off was time-consuming and a bit messy.
I have brought small pre-packaged nut butter packets on long bike rides. I can rip off a small corner and squeeze it to eat. It’s pricey and wasteful to buy the pre packaged ones, so if you have a solution, tnat’s cool. They are great protein, don’t need to be kept cold, and don’t get gross if they warm with body heat!
I was going to ask the same question! Since I’ve revamped my diet this year, I wanted to find better ways to refuel during long runs instead of the gels I used to take. Will you please share your findings?! One drink I thought about was maybe coconut water with honey?