I had every intent to share a blog post with you guys yesterday. I had half of it typed up and ready to go but just couldn’t finish it. The blog post was a simple recap of our Tuesday.
I made banana bread protein pancakes for me and Chase. We took poor Sadie in for a liver biopsy after spending three hours at the vet with her on Monday. (We are obviously concerned and are hoping and believing everything will be okay. We should have the results from her biopsy within the next week or so.) We met up with friends for a sunny play date at a local park and ate a delicious Blue Apron vegetarian meal for dinner.
I photographed this oatmeal.
But I also had a follow-up appointment with a maternal and fetal medicine doctor in the late afternoon.
Sitting in the waiting room while one beautifully pregnant woman paid her co-pay and the receptionist congratulated her on the ultrasound pictures of her baby was hard. I truly felt happiness for this woman because she looked so radiant and the joy you feel in your heart when you see a healthy baby growing in your belly is overwhelming in the best possible way. But I also felt a rush of grief knowing Ryan and I would never have those moments of excitement and relief with the baby we lost.
During my appointment, I saw my uterus without our baby in it for the first time. I felt the internal pressure of the ultrasound knowing that the doctor wasn’t looking for a beating heart.
As my doctor said yesterday, sometimes a miscarriage serves as an incredibly tragic reminder of the fragility of life and the miracle of a healthy pregnancy and birth. I don’t feel like I took one second of my pregnancy with Chase for granted but I also have a whole new outlook on just how lucky Ryan and I were to experience a healthy pregnancy and labor with our first baby. I hope and pray we will again one day, when we are ready. The seemingly tiny moments in the grand scheme of a child’s life – a black and white dancing baby on the computer screen of an ultrasound – have new meaning to me.
I was nervous for my appointment but left feeling very grateful when the doctor assured me everything looked okay internally. I didn’t expect to feel as overwhelmed or emotional during my appointment as I did, but after the ultrasound, when I sat up, I thought I might vomit. It was one of those, “I’m okay… and then I’m not” (repeat) moments.
When I arrived home, rather than take the time after dinner to finish my blog post which surely would’ve been a hot mess, I hung out with my family. Sometimes I feel like I’m all talked out about everything and then something like Tuesday’s appointment will trigger a whole new set of emotions.
So today, amid the tangled web of words and emotions that are constantly floating around in my head and in my heart and on this blog, I wanted to talk about something comforting. Something warm and something simple.
A perfectly delicious distraction.
This high protein hemp oatmeal is a satiating recipe I’ve been making for breakfast when I want something slightly sweet and filling first thing in the morning.
I’ve been playing around with adding hemp seeds and hemp protein powder to various smoothies, overnight oats creations, pancakes and more and this oatmeal is one of my favorite ways to enjoy the plant-based, vegan-friendly protein powder.
I typically make a large three-portion serving of this high protein hemp oatmeal so I can simply reheat it for breakfast another morning. Plus, it tastes fantastic the next day. (If you feel like it needs a little help coming back to life, I recommend adding a small splash of almond milk to the oatmeal before microwaving it to add a little moisture while keeping the oats nice and creamy.)
And don’t forget to add your favorite toppings to this warm and comforting bowl of oatmeal. (Tip: Toppings are key to making this oatmeal look appetizing. Green hemp protein powder + Beige oatmeal = Not a recipe for an attractive breakfast.)
Some of my favorite mix-ins include unsweetened coconut, fresh berries, pumpkin seeds, sliced almonds and a drizzle of nut butter. And if you prefer a slightly sweeter bowl of oats, add a drizzle of honey or a small sprinkle of brown sugar before digging in!
High Protein Hemp Oatmeal
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High Protein Hemp Oatmeal
- Prep Time: 3 mins
- Cook Time: 12 mins
- Total Time: 15 mins
- Yield: 3 bowls 1x
- Category: breakfast, oatmeal, vegan
Description
This recipe for High Protein Hemp Oatmeal is a dairy-free protein-packed breakfast dish that comes together quickly on a busy morning. With 14 grams of protein and 14 grams of fiber per serving it’s a delicious morning meal that will keep you full for hours.
Ingredients
- 1 cup old fashioned oats
- 2 1/2 cups non-dairy milk (I love almond milk or cashew milk)
- 3 tablespoons hemp protein powder
- 1 tablespoon hemp seeds
- 1 tablespoon chia seeds
- 1 very ripe banana, mashed
- 1 teaspoon cinnamon
- Pinch of salt
Instructions
- Combine all ingredients in a medium-size pot. Heat over medium-high heat and stir regularly (don’t walk away!) for 10-12 minutes until milk is completely absorbed and the oatmeal appears thick and fluffy.
- Divide oats into serving bowls and top with desired toppings. Refrigerate any leftovers in an air-tight container.
Nutritional Information Per Serving
For three servings: Calories: 278 / Fat: 8g / Saturated Fat: 1g / Fiber: 14g / Sugars: 6g / Protein: 14g / Carbs: 43g
Ingredient Notes
For this recipe, I used Nutiva Hemp Protein Powder which I love because there’s nothing else in the protein powder other than pure organic hemp protein. I also find that this protein powder absorbs other flavors easily. I order mine through Thrive Market but it’s also available on Amazon. (Just FYI, I’ve seen it for sale at Whole Foods for almost double what you can find it for online.)
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Thanks as always for your beautiful candidness! I’ve been trying to incorporate more plant-based protein in my diet, but man can it be a struggle! Especially if you’re a less than stellar cook (even my smoothies turn out poorly, I mean really, it’s embarrassing). Excited to try this recipe, you’ve been my source for a few winners that even I can pull off! Whole Foods has a new-ish line of plant-based protein drinks called Koia that are awesome, if you haven’t tried them yet. They have been my go-to breakfast of late, but per usual, will cost you a pretty penny. And now off to grab hemp protein powder (here’s to hoping I won’t screw this one up!)
Thank you. And I really hope you like this recipe! I’ll look for Koia drinks — thanks for the tip!
Aw yesterday must have been so hard. I always feel so surrounded by so many emotions anytime I’m in a doctors office. Happy to hear everything looked ok. And I always add egg whites to my oatmeal, but never thought about protein. Love the idea!
Egg whites are a go-to for amping up the protein in oatmeal for me, too. I really love this alternative though!
i hope you know that your honestly and genuine manner is SO inspiring and greatly appreciated by so many 🙂 I’ve been following your blog for a while and I absolutely love/look forward to your posts! Any tips for a substitute for banana? I’m allergic :/
Thank you <3 I think pumpkin would work well from a consistency standpoint but you'd definitely need to add a sweetener to make it taste appetizing. I'd try adding a splash or two of maple syrup to the pot before cooking if you use pumpkin!
Thanks for sharing your feelings, thoughts, and story with us. I am sure it is a very vulnerable thing but just know you are fostering so much connection and love. I hope you feel that 🙂
I just wanted to let you know your photos on your last 2 posts have been absolutely stunning-not sure if you changed anything but the food photography looks great!!
Have a great day.
Thank you so much for encouraging me to share, Mollie. And thanks for the picture compliments. I bought a new camera back in December and am trying to get the hang of it!
Oh Julie – I am sorry you had to experience that at the doctor. It’s a good reminder that we are all struggling with something, even if we appear normal on the outside. Thank you for sharing!
Also, prayers for Sadie. My pup had a liver biopsy last spring with not great results. You surely don’t need anymore woes on your plate right now. Take care!!!
I’m so sorry the results of your dog’s liver biopsy were not good. 🙁 sadie had an ultrasound of her liver on Monday which showed no growths around/on her liver which is good but we are just concerned about a myriad of other issues. She is acting totally normal which gives us hope that whatever is causing unusual blood results and bilirubin in her urine is something we will be able to treat.
This looks absolutely delicious–cant wait to try it. I’m always up for a simple reheat breakfast for weekday mornings! Glad everything looked okay for your follow-up. Still praying for you <3
I appreciate your prayers so much. Thank you!
We love ya and are here for you even though you’ve never met most of us. I can’t imagine how tough this is and will be.
I hope that the days get easier & that we get to read along again on your journey like we did with Chase. Much love from Memphis!
Why have I not thought to add fresh fruit, chia seeds and coconut to my oatmeal? I have all of these things laying around my house! I am going to have to try this for breakfast ASAP!
Thanks for this recipe! I’ve been wanting to add more protein to my breakfast, but always wake up wanting carbs. I’ve been adding hemp seeds to my oatmeal, but just added that hemp protein powder to my Amazon card and can’t wait to give this a try!
I’m glad you had a good report at your appointment. Thank you for talking so openly about this, including your emotional state after the fact. These things are rarely brought out into the public but they’re real and it makes people feel like theyre not alone. Its so important to keep giving yourself grace to take time to heal emotionally Easier said than done I am sure! Sending good thoughts your way.
oh Julie, I understand this so well. When I was being prepped for my D&C and a nurse had me explain everything that had gone wrong in my pregnancy, and I was crying through my story, they had a pregnant nurse set up my IV. It was so incredibly painful.
Keep telling yourself, when you see pregnant women, and if you find you keep counting the weeks as they go by, “Even though I am not experiencing that right now at this moment, a day is going to come when I will experience that again. Even though I am not this many weeks pregnant now, the perfect time will come when I am.” Because it is so, so true.
I too lost my second baby and felt the same way, looking back at my first pregnancy and feeling so incredibly thankful.
Even though I have had my rainbow baby (who I cannot imagine not having in my life – you will feel the same way I promise you!), and am not planning to have any more children, I can’t thank you enough for your honesty. these posts will help so many people. when I had my miscarriage, I felt so very alone because it is so rare that people will write about or discuss miscarriages. thinking of you
Thank you for sharing a little bit of your story with me and for this part of your comment: “Even though I am not experiencing that right now at this moment, a day is going to come when I will experience that again. Even though I am not this many weeks pregnant now, the perfect time will come when I am.” We are not ready for another pregnancy/baby yet but we are so, so hopeful for a healthy pregnancy and baby when we are ready to try again and I absolutely love the words you shared. I pray we will have our rainbow baby when the time is right, though we will never, ever forget the precious baby we lost. <3 Thank you for continuing to give me hope and for your support. xoxo
I completely understand. I still have moments of sadness about the loss of my second baby and know that I always will. Certain losses in life scar our soul but I believe, like you do, that one day I will be reunited with my baby, and you will be reunited with your baby too. There are certain days/triggers that impact me more than others, even years later. My husband always reminded me (when it took me two months to recover and than many more months before I was pregnant again) that I needed to enjoy and appreciate every “extra” day I got to spend with just my older son, since I would have become a mom of two around 5/5/15 and instead I welcomed my rainbow baby on 12/22/15. I constantly tried reminded myself of this on my hardest days. God always seems to know the right timing for us, even when it is so, so hard. Many hugs and prayers to you and your family.
I’m so happy to hear you’re exercising self-care – i.e. where you were going to type something up, but then didn’t feel like finishing it. I’m glad you’re listening to yourself and what you need and heeding that. Cheryl Richardson (author) has some beautiful self-care cards (like a deck of cards with messages) that are kind of nice to draw from each day. As I’ve said before, you do you, and take care of yourself, and share when you want to share. I know you’re helping literally thousands of women who might read this. When we talk about our stuff, it really helps other people feel like they’re not alone. I’m sure you felt that way when you read all the comments on your past posts. You don’t want other people to feel pain either, but it’s good when people can be open about their similar experiences, so there’s healing for all in the process.
Switching gears, I want to point out that your food photography is ON POINT! You made those bowls look beautiful (and lol on the unappetizing chia/gray oatmeal color prior to the toppings, because I once tried to send a pic of my homemade peanut butter and jelly oatmeal to a friend, and it just looked like a hot mess on camera. But a DELICIOUS hot mess!)
Thanks for the recipe as always! xoxoxo and hang in there
So sorry about your loss Julie. Really appreciate your openness about everything–one of the many reasons I love reading your blog!
And thanks for the recipe! I have been enjoying the plant-based diet so I’ll have to check out that protein powder.
Julie, I just want you to know how much your blog brings a smile to my face everyday, thanks to your positive, upbeat, and bubbly personality. (I tell my friends about your blog all the time). It makes me so sad to think that you are going through such a tragic time right now. Although I can not even begin to imagine what you are going through I hope this poem brings some light into your day.
What we call miscarriage,
Is hard to understand,
but God calls special babies
back with Him in Heaven’s land.
He doesn’t need to test them.
These angels are too pure.
The trials of this earth
are not theirs to endure.
But as all of God’s children,
they need a family too,
An angel dwelt inside your womb
because this child chose you.
A loving son or daughter
will be in your arms one day.
One whose love surrounds you
Heaven’s not that far away.
Trust in God, our Father
and always remember this,
everything has purpose.
and with Him there is no “mis.”
Source: http://www.familyfriendpoems.com/poem/miscarriage
Praying for Sadie and for you. <3
This recipe looks delicious; definitely going to try it out soon.
Thank you for sharing your heart with us! Praying for your, the family, and Sadie!
Almost…..this protein powder is on sale at Vitacost.com for $11.72. That is $4 cheaper than Amazon. I live overseas so I’d had a love for Vitacost for years!
Blessings!
Hi Julie,
Thank you for your post and for continuing to open up about your miscarriage and the feelings that surround it. I understand the heartbreak and sadness you are going through. You are helping so many people by sharing. I remember feeling overwhelmed with sadness sometimes and then I would feel fine other times. I never realized how many pregnant people there were, how many baby/baby product commercials there were on TV and how many people ask you when you are going to have kids until I had my miscarriage. Every time I saw someone who was pregnant I just wanted to cry and sometimes I did. There is no one right way to grieve. Just take things one day at a time and know that things will get easier. I know there are times where it doesn’t seem like it will right now. I am thinking of you all and Sadie too.
I hope you’re feeling better, Julie. I am praying for you! <3 Thanks for sharing this yummy recipe. I'm always looking for more ways to add protein! And I love the creative toppings. 🙂
Sending you a great big hug, Julie! It has not been an easy time for you. Sending much love and strength to you and your family. Please take care of yourself and if you don’t feel like doing a thing, don’t feel you have to do it – do what is best for you now! Thank you always for being so honest and sharing your life experiences with us on this blog, even the stories that are not easy to share.
And also, on a different note, might I agree with the others that your photography looks awesome!