a simple real food recipe :: nourishing smoothie :: perfect breakfast or lunch

Not gonna lie to you gang. This mama has had a rough time getting some of the more nourishing foods down her in the first part of this pregnancy! This is not uncommon – especially for the first trimester. And I have a solution! Do you know how many nourishing things you can get into a smoothie?!This really has been my go-to for all of my pregnancies during the first trimester, when all that sounds good for lunch is…let’s face it…a cracker or chocolate chip cookie. I’m well into enjoying the second trimester now, but this is still a great option when I’ve had nothing but a crazy morning and don’t have the energy to fix a healthy lunch.

This is also a great smoothie base to make after you have a baby, and if you are nursing. It is very filling and full of great nutrients for you to replenish after deliver, and for your milk supply and baby if you are nursing. I would probably do up the fruit smoothie vs the chocolate version while nursing.This isn’t just for the pregnant or nursing mamas by the way! I frequently make these up for lunch when I just don’t have anything ready or planned!

Please see the Kitchen Tips section for great reading material on why I choose the ingredients I do, and also for resources on what pregnant and nursing mamas should be eating.

CHOCOLATE SMOOTHIE:
1 cup whole milk, coconut milk, or water (preferably raw milk – or non homogenized, low pasteurized. Never ULP.)
6 ice cubes
½ banana
1 ½ TB chia seeds (I get mine cheapest in the bulk refrigerated section at our health food store. Amazoncarries it at a good price too.)
2 TB melted coconut oil (Our Costco is carrying coconut oil cheapest now – or get Nutiva on Amazon)
2 pastured egg yolks (If you are egg free just leave it out.)
2 tsp Great Lakes Gelatin (If you don’t have this you can leave it out, but see Kitchen Tips on why this is such a great add in!)
1 ½ TB raw cocoa (I get mine cheapest in the bulk refrigerated section at our health food store.)
Pinch of sea salt
1-2 TB raw honey or pure maple syrup to taste

STRAWBERRY SMOOTHIE:
1 cup whole milk, coconut milk, or water (preferably raw milk – or non homogenized, low pasteurized. Never ULP.)
6 frozen strawberries
½ banana
1 ½ TB chia seeds (I get mine cheapest in the bulk refrigerated section at our health food store. Amazoncarries it at a good price too.)
2 TB melted coconut oil (Our Costco is carrying coconut oil cheapest now – or get Nutiva on Amazon)
2 pastured egg yolks (If you are egg free just leave it out.)
2 tsp Great Lakes Gelatin (If you don’t have this you can leave it out, but see Kitchen Tips on why this is such a great add in!)
1 ½ TB raw cocoa (I get mine cheapest in the bulk refrigerated section at our health food store.)
Pinch of sea salt
1-2 TB raw honey or pure maple syrup to taste.

Kitchen Tips:

1. I promise you won’t taste the coconut oil. Just try it. Start with 1TB if that ingredient freaks you out 😉
2. If you aren’t getting much quantity of food down, just keep it in the fridge and sip on it throughout the day. It also freezes in popsicle molds great so you could do it that way if that sounds better.
3. A good quality probiotic would be another good add in – especially if you are struggling with pregnancy related constipation and/or during cold/flu season to boost the immune system.
4. Read THIS and THIS on why real fats and friendly fats like the coconut oil and pastured yolks are so vital to your health.
5. Great Lakes Gelatin is the purest form of protein “powder” you will ever find. It is made from the gelatin in the bones from grassfed cows and is extremely nourishing.
6. HERE is a great homemade coconut milk recipe. Otherwise Native Forest is really the only brand that I know of that isn’t in a BPA lined container.
7. Read THIS on what pregnant and nursing mamas should be getting in their diet every day.
8. The chia seed fiber will help with pregnancy related constipation – yay!
9. You could add a splash or two of coconut water if you are in need of electrolytes, or add another pinch of sea salt.
10. Leave in or add in whatever you are in need of for that day/meal. I leave out the chia seeds sometimes or do avocado instead of the egg yolks occasionally or leave out that fat if I have already had some eggs for the day.

YOUR TURN!

Did you breeze through eating well during your pregnancies?? Let me know how you like the smoothie if you try it!

This post was shared at Real Food Forager’s Fat Tuesday, and The Polikva Family’s Family Table Tuesday!