Nothing beats starting the day with a bowl of your favorite cereal, but when you need 0.8g of protein per kilogram of body weight, it is hard for many to meet their protein goals of the day.
Athletes and fitness enthusiasts require even more dietary protein, making this much harder.
Most breakfast cereals contain a mere few grams of protein per serving, such as 5g per serving in Cheerios, 2g per serving in Frosted Flakes, or 1g in Rice Krispies.
It can be time-consuming and inconvenient to meet that protein requirement daily with some eggs or a smoothie, which is why protein powder is the perfect solution to this problem.
You can put protein powder in cereal. In fact, protein powder in cereal can be delicious, nutritious, and filling, and contrary to public perception, it does not form lumps in the milk.
It is more finely ground than sugar and since sugar dissolves readily in cereal, protein powder should do the same.
Not only does it go well with cereal, protein powder uplifts yogurt, smoothies, oatmeal, shakes, and many other breakfast items.
Why Should You Add Protein Powder to Cereal?
From increasing the protein content and flavor of your diet to keeping you satiated for a longer time, protein powder in cereal serves many benefits.
These can be broadly classified as follows:
Enhance the Protein Profile Of Your Diet
Regardless of whether you are bulking or cutting, a well-rounded diet is what everyone should aim for.
Cereal is low in protein, which is why pairing it up with something high in protein helps you hit your daily protein goal.
If you do not take any protein in your breakfast, it’s more pressure on you to make up the deficit in your other meals of the day.
If you are lifting weights, your body needs protein to repair muscle tissue and build muscle mass. Of course, protein powder is not the only option, but it is a more convenient alternative to devouring more than five boiled eggs.
Similarly, you are unlikely to pair up this sweet breakfast cereal with a meat-based protein source.
Therefore, protein powder is the most compatible source that will ensure you get enough protein in your diet.
Prevents You From Going Hungry
Giving in to mid-day cravings like high-calorie granola bars is the number one reason why people fail to achieve their weight loss goals.
If you’re cutting, you are eating fewer calories than you are burning and it is thus normal for you to get hungry.
What you can do, however, is prolong the time your body stays full and that happens with protein powder in your cereal.
Carbohydrates like cereal are easily digestible, making you feel hungry within one to two hours after you eat.
On the other hand, adding protein content to your cereal slows its digestion, keeping you full for a longer team and taking you one step closer to your goal weight.
Finally, eating a well-balanced diet with most of the major food groups also boosts your energy, increasing focus and reducing lethargy. Therefore, this healthy breakfast prepares you well for the day that lies ahead.
Breaks the Monotony Of Your Diet
Even though protein shakes are arguably the most popular medium to consume protein powder, it is easy to get demotivated if you’re eating the same thing every day.
In a time where everyone preps their lunches and dinners, breakfast is the one time you can easily shake things up by using your cereal to take protein.
Adding protein powder to cereal is quick, easy, and does not require any prior preparation.
More importantly, you can try out an abundance of flavors and combinations, preventing any boredom from this breakfast.
How Much Protein Powder Should Be Added To Cereal?
Most protein powders come with a scoop inside them, measuring just the right amount for one serving.
1 scoop of that for 1 to 1.5 cups of cereal is the ideal combination, that will not only guarantee that one doesn’t overwhelm the other, but it will also keep the recommended ratio of 40% carbs, 30% protein, and 30% fat in check.
How to Add Protein Powder to Cereal?
If you have tried sprinkling protein powder onto your prepared cereal in milk, you may have noticed lumps of undissolved powder and called it quits on this idea.
However, that is not the correct way to go about this, because no one wants to start their day with a messy breakfast.
The key is to mix the protein powder with your milk of choice, be it the low-calorie almond milk or any other alternatives, in a shaker bottle.
Shake it until the powder completely dissolves in the milk, and then add this combination to your cereal.
If you do not own a shaker and only have a bowl and spoon instead, add one scoop of protein powder slowly into about half a cup of milk, continuously mixing the two with the spoon.
Keep whisking it until there are no lumps left, before adding this to the cereal. If need be, you can top that up with more milk if needed.
Which Protein Powder Flavors Should You Add To Cereal?
One of the best things about protein powder and cereals is the diversity in options when it comes to both of them.
While many use unflavored protein powder just to meet their protein goals for the day, why would you not want to enhance the flavor of your cereal?
Even adding a little bit of powder can do wonders for your palette, offering a bit of sweetness without any sugar.
When it comes to flavor, the best one depends on individual taste.
Vanilla, strawberry, banana, peanut butter, and chocolate are some of the most popular flavors of protein powder but it is advisable to try whatever appeals to you one at a time.
Different flavors work best with different types of cereal. For example, chocolate protein powder tastes exquisite with cereals that do not have a powerful flavor of their own such as Cheerios.
A basic flavor such as vanilla is often the go-to for beginners.
When Should Protein Powder Be Added To Cereal?
Protein powder and cereal can be eaten both pre-workout and post-workout.
If you take it before you hit the gym, the carbohydrates in your cereal should be a great fix for quick energy needs, whereas this diet’s high-carb and high protein content are perfect for muscle repair after a workout.
The only difference in how you eat it before and after a workout should be in the liquid you use with these two.
If consumed pre-workout, it is recommended to use low-fat liquids such as almond milk, water, or skimmed milk.
Fat slows down digestion, making it harder for the body to quickly break down these carbs for energy before your workout.
Alternatively, fat should be consumed after a workout to meet your dietary needs. The combination of protein powder and cereal gives you both carbs and proteins, but very little fat and fiber.
That needs to be remedied and if you are not comfortable using fatty milk, adding nuts to your cereal can also help.
Who Should Add Protein Powder To Their Cereal?
If you are on a cutting diet, trying to limit as many calories as possible, mixing protein powder with cereal is a very carbohydrate-heavy method of protein intake.
Cereal is very high in carbs and should best be avoided if you’re cutting because a high carb protein breakfast might meet your protein goal but exceed your calories for the day.
In that case, low-calorie sources such as mixing protein powder in water or almond milk might be a better substitute.
On the contrary, protein powder in cereal is the best option for those looking to gain muscle mass in a bulking diet.
Whether you’re a bodybuilder or just trying to gain those pecs for your Instagram page, protein powder in cereal is a quick way of getting both protein and extra calories into your diet.
For these people, meeting a high food volume goal can be physically uncomfortable.
Instead of eating lots of eggs, smoothies, and meat, quick digesting carbohydrates like cereal can readily offer you calories while leaving room for more.
The Bottom Line to Adding Protein Powder to Cereal
Protein powder has become a staple for many fitness enthusiasts and if you’re sick of protein shakes, adding the powder to cereal is a wonderful breakfast choice.
It helps you hit your daily protein goal, keeps you full for longer after you eat, and switches things up without ever compromising on taste, convenience, and utility.
If you want to take it a step further, add some fruit into your meal to provide extra micronutrients and formulate a balanced and well-rounded plate for your breakfast.
