Sports Union April 2019 | Page 32

32 SportsUnion | APRIL 2019 Power Up with Pancakes Kaitlyn Summers MS, RDN Ever wonder where the word “Breakfast” came from? “Breakfast” “Break Fast” “Break the Fast” Breakfast is just that… Breaking the fast. During sleep, our body goes into a fasting state and depletes our carbohydrate energy stores. In the morning, our body needs energy from food to replen- ish those stores. Because of this, break- fast is essential to start the day fueled and en- ergized. Skipping breakfast can lead to feel- ing tired, fatigued, and even poor perfor- mance later on in the day. Pancakes are a break- fast staple. However, it’s difficult to make time for pancakes during the week especially balancing school and activities. Pan- cakes can also be messy and not ideal for eating on the go. To solve this prob- lem, try making “Pancake Bites”. Putting the batter in a muffin tin then baking makes for an easy, on-the- go breakfast. These “Pan- cake Bites” are fluffy like pancakes but in the shape of a muffin to make them portable. The bites can be stored in the freezer and taken out when needed. Pancake bites don’t have to be just for break- fast, they make for a satisfy- ing snack or post workout fuel. With c a r b o - hydrates and pro- t e i n , t h e s e bites are the per- fect com- bination to refuel and re- pair after a game or prac- tice. LEMON ZEST PANCAKE BITES: Ingredients: * Standard size muffin pan (1/2 cup capacity) * 1 cup Kodiak Cake But- termilk Mix* * 1 cup milk of your choice * 1 egg * 1 tbsp fresh lemon juice * 1/8 teaspoon lemon zest * 1 teaspoon of sugar Instructions: Preheat oven to 375 de- grees. Spray muffin pan with non-stick spray, if needed. Combine all ingredients together Evenly distribute mix into 5 muffin cups. Ap- prox. ¼ cup mix each. Bake for 20-25 minutes. *Kodiak Cakes is a whole wheat, higher protein mix compared to standard pan- cake mixes. Kodiak Cake mix can be replaced with a store-bought whole wheat pancake mix. The buttermilk mix makes it easy to change up the flavor and customize the taste. Add fruits such as blueberries or mashed up bananas. Top off with nuts or chocolate chips. Mix in cocoa powder and peanut butter for a sweet treat or add a tablespoon of honey or maple syrup to the batter. Spice it up with cinnamon or pumpkin pie spice. Interested in individual or team nutrition seminars? Kaitlyn Summers, MS, RDN provides nutrition education opportunities for teams, parents, or coaches. Learn more at www.WNYPerformanceNutrition.com Kaitlyn Summers, MS, RDN is a private practice dietitian and sports nutritionist behind WNY Performance Nutrition. Kaitlyn has a passion for educating youth athletes and parents about proper sports nutrition. She provides individual counseling and group seminars in WNY www.wnyperformancenutrition.com @KaitlynSportsRD