May 8th...this vs. that...pancakes, that is!

So I thought it would be a cool idea to do, "this vs. that", take a favorite food and find the healthier version of it.  So I thought I'd start with a weekend favorite, pancakes.  At our house there ends up being chocolate chips in them and lots of syrup.  I stand and drool over them, but I have come up with a Protein Power Pancakes that are just as tasty but healthier.  So you can have this...
  

Ingredients

6 egg whites, beaten until fluffy
1/2 cup non-fat cottage cheese
1 scoop vanilla protein powder
1/2 cup oatmeal, uncooked
1/4 cup wheat germ
1/4 cup flax seed
1 tsp baking powder
1 tbsp canola oil
1/2 tsp cinnamon

Directions

Place all ingredients except egg whites in a food processor and pulse or blend until mixture is uniform.

Pour blended ingredients into a bowl and fold in the egg whites

Prepare a griddle with cooking spray. Ladle pancake mixture onto griddle and cook until both sides are browned.

Number of Servings: 3Nutritional Info

• Servings Per Recipe: 3
• Amount Per Serving
• Calories: 303.1

• Total Fat: 12.1 g
• Cholesterol: 13.2 mg
• Sodium: 424.2 mg
• Total Carbs: 22.1 g
• Dietary Fiber: 7.3 g
• Protein: 30.2 g

Or you can have that...

Ingredients

• 3/4 cup milk
• 2 tablespoons white vinegar
• 1 cup all-purpose flour
• 2 tablespoons white sugar
• 1 teaspoon baking powder
• 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1 egg
• 2 tablespoons butter, melted
• cooking spray
• 230 calories / 8.2g fat

OK so I know the pancakes above look really yummy with all that syrup and if you compare a serving of 3 pancakes the stats are close.  My point is that there are 300 calories of nutrition in the healthier version and 300 empty calories in the syrup covered ones.  So pick your food choices wisely, not all calories are created equal.  Your body will store the "crap" calories, and yes you guessed it, right on you butt, belly and thighs!  The nutritional calories, will give you energy and be burned as fuel.  So, next time you grab that pre-packaged snack, think about whats in it and where it's going to land on your body!