This protein-packed breakfast is my favorite post-workout meal 

Fuel up with this protein-packed recipe and reward yourself for your hard work. 

Southwest Breakfast Skillet Recipe Photo 

Weekend workouts are my favorite. Instead of rushing into an early morning  fitness class on a weekday, you can get a little sleep and spend more time stretching and cooling down. I also have more time to dream about the perfect post-workout meal: a variety of delicious veggies combined with eggs, bacon, and cheese. Does this high-protein post-workout meal sound too good to be true? Luckily for you, it doesn't. I made this dish because I need to recharge after a hard workout and it needs to not only  meet my nutritional needs, but  taste good, too. Here's why this Southwest Breakfast Skillet is the best high-protein post-workout meal ever. 

I've always been an athlete.  I swam and played soccer growing up, although I wasn't very good at it. I started playing volleyball and tennis in middle school and continued  in high school. I quickly learned that sports are about more than effort, athleticism, and strength. It's also about nutrition. I remember  a classmate's mom bringing over donuts before a volleyball game. Of course we ate them, and of course, our performance in that game was catastrophic. We'd exhausted the rapid carbohydrate intake from the warm-up and  were left with the sluggish aftereffects that come with eating foods high in carbohydrates and fat. Our coach was not impressed and donuts were banned (at least before games). 

In college, I joined the cycling team and was lucky enough to work with a coach who truly cared about performance. Her holistic approach included not only the usual things like weightlifting, exercise, and long  rides to build endurance, but also nutrition. She encouraged us to look at the foods we use for fuel and taught us that vegetables, fruits, and whole grains not only make us feel good, but also help us perform better. I loved it and changed my major from fashion design to nutrition during that same period. 

As an adult, I still love sports. This is how I stay healthy, both mentally and physically. Anyone who knows me knows that I love to train hard. I'm a happy girl when I'm taking a HIIT class. But these courses aren't possible without proper nutrition before and after. And as I've gotten older, refueling after workouts has become even more important. Sports are exciting! Endorphins are released along with the heart, lungs and muscles ,This requires a lot of effort and energy..  You need rest to regenerate and recover. Carbohydrates and protein are the ultimate combination for recovery. That's why in this frying pan we use potatoes, which are rich in carbohydrates but also potassium, an important electrolyte for hydration. Eggs and cheese provide protein that helps rebuild and repair muscle tissue. Thanks to them, this dish has a whopping 17 grams of protein per serving. Add in some veggies for color and fiber, and you have a one-pot meal that will have you feeling ready for your next workout in no time. 

If this all seems  too much work, i.e. you  just worked out, try preparing your ingredients ahead of time. All veggies can be pre-chopped or you can buy pre-cut versions at the produce section or salad bar.  I like the recipe as written, but feel free to adjust the ingredients based on your preferences and what you have on hand. Almost any vegetable you choose will be delicious!