Our top five low sugar, high protein recipes

You may have read my ‘How do I Stop Eating Sugar’ article and be looking to reduce your sugar intake with recipes that are fulfilling and tasty but have a low sugar content. If this is the case, you’ve come to the right place. Whether you’re looking for a snack or inspiration for breakfast or dinner - we’ve got you covered with these high protein recipes.

1. Zucchini 'Chocolate' Muffins

When you’re looking for a low sugar fix or something chocolatey, look no further than these zucchini chocolate muffins which have only 2.1g of sugar per muffin. If you’re looking to reduce your sugar intake even more, I would recommend using cacao powder over cocoa powder as cacao is the purest form of chocolate that you can consume, with no added extras. Cacao is also known to be one of the highest sources of antioxidants and magnesium. Coco powder on the other hand is still cacao when it starts out but it has been heated at high temperatures. During this heating process, some of the enzyme content reduces which lowers the nutritional content. However, if you can find a variety without added sugars or fats, it is still beneficial for you as it still retains a large amount of antioxidants when it gets heated. The zucchini chocolate muffins are also a sneaky way to get your veggie intake in and the recipe can be found here

2. Turkey and Avocado/smashed pea on toast

The Protein Bread Co.’s 6 Australian Seeds bread mix contains only 1.1g of sugar per 2 slices, so is a great low sugar option. Simply mash together a healthy dose of edamame and avocado to create a creamy spread for your toast. You can also add a tbsp. of Greek yoghurt in with this too if you want it to be extra creamy. Did you know that one cup of Edamame contains around 22g of protein so this combination helps to keep you feeling satisfied. Top your toast with your spread and add a few slices of turkey breast on too. High in protein and good fats and equally low in sugar, this is a winning combination.

3. Goodness Bowl

Our Instagram feeds are covered with them at the moment, and many brunch menus are showcasing them: a ‘goodness bowl’ is basically a bowl filled with different healthy food combinations and can be created to your liking (they usually look very Instagram friendly too). A typical goodness bowl for me would include a base of spiralled zucchini tossed with a tbsp. of apple cider vinegar. On this I would add roasted cauliflower seasoned well with turmeric, roasted or grilled slices of aubergine with a dollop of hummus, a sprinkle of roasted chickpeas with curry spices, cubes of feta, a boiled egg or slices of chorizo, and roasted Brussels sprouts. You can basically use any veggies or toppings into your bowl but the idea is to have as many different flavours and colours as possible.

4. Chicken Skewers with yogurt and paprika dressing

As the weather gets warmer and the BBQ’s come out, our chicken skewer recipe with a yoghurt and paprika dressing is a great low sugar option. One pot of Chobani Greek yoghurt which makes up the majority of the sauce contains only 5.3g sugar, and one pot will have you covered for many skewers. You can find the recipe here

5. Low carb Pancakes with peanut butter and cacao nibs

Pancakes don’t have to be laden with sugary toppings and can create a healthy and nutritious meal. Using the Protein Bread Co.’s pancake mix contains only 3.5g of sugar per serving so creates a low sugar main. Top your pancakes with Pic’s peanut butter containing only 1.1g sugar per serving along with 100g of cacao nibs that have only 1.8g of sugar, and you’ve got yourself a delicious combination. Cacao nibs are simply cacao beans that have been broken into pieces and these are a great alternative to chocolate chips but without the added sugar and fats. Be warned: they are quite strong in flavour so don’t overload your pancakes. Finding recipes with little sugar in is easy but equally checking your ingredients for added or hidden sugar can work well too. In all of the recipes above I feel that the flavours have not been hindered due to the lack of the sugar – they are all delicious