Top 4 Ways to Add Protein to Oatmeal

I strive to have all of my SMASH clients focusing on a eating high-protein diet. Not only does this help them keep their immune system high and stay full but it also ais in repairing muscle and streamlining weight loss. Learn more about the benefits of a high protein diet.

And though I personally love oatmeal for its warm, comforting taste, it’s not exactly packed with protein. In fact, half of a cup cup of cooked oatmeal contains only 5 grams of protein.

So, if you want to have the best of both worlds: enjoying your favorite breakfast while staying full, learn how to add protein to your oatmeal.

Ways To Add Protein to Oatmeal

Below are my four favorite ways to add more protein to your oatmeal. They're “big bang for your buck” increases too.

Though swirling in some peanut butter, toasted pecans, or hemp hearts is great, those sources increase the protein content minimally. Just like adding protein to smoothies, those are great add-ons overall, just not as the only options.

Instead, with the four ways below, you can bump up your protein to four times more than what was originally in it.

1. Egg Whites

This is a delicious option for a hot cup of oatmeal! Not only do you bump up the protein, but the egg whites make this delicious, sticky but light texture in the oats. 

Egg whites have about 13 grams of protein per quarter cup so adding this into your oats can be an easy way to bump up. I make egg white oatmeal with a cinnamon roll flavor and it’s a huge hit with my kids on chilly winter mornings.

2. Protein Powder

The simplest way for busy moms is to increase their protein intake and an easy high protein food staple. Adding protein powder to your oatmeal or overnight oats makes for an effortless switch-up. We use recipes like peanut butter baked oats and overnight oats with protein powder to kick off our mornings.

Know that the kind of protein powder you choose can and will affect the taste and texture of protein oats. Learn more about choosing a protein powder so that you can make the best choice for your goals.

3. Greek Yogurt

Even though I am dairy-free (learn about the benefits of a dairy-free diet), I use Greek yogurt to boost my protein intake.

You can get great vegan Greek yogurts now and that extra add-in to oatmeal is amazing. Though it does work to add in to hot or baked oatmeal, personally I enjoy it more when it comes to overnight protein oats.

Collagen Powder

This is my “I put that’s*** in everything” life staple! Collagen powder is like bone broth (immune boosting) but without tasting like actual broth. Learn about the difference between collagen powder and bone broth.

For people who don’t tolerate protein powders well, I find this the next best alternative. Here’s a breakdown of the differences between collagen and protein powder.

Collagen powder whisks in well to anything (this cinnamon roll overnight protein oats is proof of that) and baked well too – check out the apple pie baked oats!

It truly is the easiest way to eat more protein.