When most people think of protein powder, they think of people who add it shakes or smoothies after a workout to help them build muscle and allow their bodies to repair after daily wear and tear. However, there are several other reasons why people take protein powder on a daily basis, and it is easier to add to most of the foods that you eat each day than you would think.

1. Shakes

A protein shake is probably one of the easiest ways to sneak protein into your diet, which is why so many people recommend having one after you work out. The protein powder is added to the mixer with your other ingredients as you would with any other flavouring or health powders and it is whizzed up in the blender and into your post-workout drink. Because a lot of protein powders do not have a flavour, it is recommended that you add things like fruits, honey or yogurt to give your shake a bit more flavour. A lot of people use protein powder in their shakes, because it is easy to see it dissolve into the liquid, so you won’t have to taste any powder or nasty additives.

2. Muffins

If you’re a baker who likes to make healthy treats to snack on throughout the week, you need to start adding protein powder to your muffins and cakes that you bake at home. Protein powder is very easy to add into any standard baking recipes, because it just gets cooked into whatever you are making, so that you get a little extra kick of protein every time you eat your baked goods. If you’re cooking for some with a gluten intolerance, just make sure that your protein powder and the flour that you are using are both gluten free and then you’re ready to start making some protein infused muffins or cakes. Another great thing about protein muffins is that you can make a large batch and store them in the freezer, so that you can quickly defrost and get a hit of protein whenever you need to.

3. Guacamole

You might be thinking that there is no way that you can add protein powder to your guacamole, but the truth is that these two go together very well. Even though guacamole is already pretty healthy and you can get several health benefits from one mouthful, adding a bit of protein powder makes it a little better for you. The powder mixes well with the avocado, so you won’t have to worry about the powder dissolving in your dip. So, next time you’re entertaining a few friends and you are looking for something healthy that everyone can enjoy, try making some protein-packed guacamole.

4. Pizza dough

Like with any other baked goods, you can add protein powder to your pizza dough to give you a little boost when you’re eating something a bit more indulgent. Pizza is often the food of choice for many people on their ‘cheat day’, because it is delicious and easy to make at home, but it doesn’t have to be really bad for you to taste great. You can add whatever you want to a pizza, so you can add some veggies and health foods to your pizza if you are trying to eat healthier. These days, you don’t even have to use dough to create a pizza base, because you can use things like cauliflower, zucchini or sweet potato as an alternative to the traditional pizza base.

5. Protein balls

If you like to have a bit of protein in your snacks throughout the day, protein balls will become your new best friend. Flavoured protein powders like varieties available from Luxe Fitness are great to use when making protein balls. You can choose from flavours like chocolate, cookies and cream or banana that compliment the ingredients in your balls, so that you can make the perfect snack to suit your tastes.Protein balls are pretty easy to make, because they use very few ingredients and there are only a few steps in the cooking process. Best of all, you don’t even need an oven to make them, because they set in the refrigerator, so you can make them anywhere at anytime.

If you’re a gym junkie that loves to get a bit of protein in your diet each day, it is good to know that there are so many ways that you can add your favourite protein powder to most meals. You don’t have to add protein powder to everything that you make in the kitchen, but if you have a long session at the gym and forget to make a smoothie afterwards, it is nice to know that protein powder can be added to a range of different foods and drinks.