Chia Cacao Shake

So a fellow preggo and cousin in law recently asked “Do you know of any smoothie recipes or anything that could help with my fatigue?” This is such a great question! I am one of those mommies who LOVES her coffee and I still drink my 1-2 cups of coffee per day. If Im really craving coffee after my initial 2 cups I’ll then switch to decaf. I know many moms don’t like the idea of drinking caffeine while pregnant and that is okay too. 🙂  When your pregnant, you are often very tired and especially tired if you have other little ones at home that you are chasing around and entertaining throughout the day.

The best ways to give yourself a little boost through out the day…

1. EXERCISE. I know, I know, easier said then done, again if you have little ones at home its a lot harder to get anything done for yourself. According to the American College of obstetrician and Gynecologists (ACOG), you can safely take part in 30 minutes or more of moderate exercise every day. Exercise strengthens your cardiovascular system, so you don’t tire as easily. With muscles that are strong and toned, you need less effort to engage in any activity.
2. HEALTHY EATING. Chia and Sunflower seeds help regulate your blood sugar giving you energy throughout the day. You can buy chia seeds at Costco, BJ, Wholefoods, Wegmans, Trader Joe’s and even some  local supermarkets if they have an organic aisle. Broccoli is a great source of beta carotene with vitamin C to keep you energized, steam some broccoli and sprinkle a little himalayan salt on top for a mid day snack, side dish to dinner, big bowl for lunch or throw it into a smoothie. Blueberries contain protective antioxidants and stimulate the brain and are also a great addition for shakes and smoothies. I like to eat them on top of plain yogurt or on top of a chia pudding. You can make a chia pudding days in advance and store it in a mason jar until you are ready to dig in. Add it to a smoothie, eat it straight from the jar or add it to a bowl topped with your favorite fresh fruits and nuts. Nuts provide a quick pick-me-up and help to keep you there. Soaking nuts in water the night before helps with digestion and has a much more of an appealing taste. Each nut has different soaking times, so check out this website for further info. Blend your favorite nuts with blueberries, coconut water and couple of pieces of broccoli and you got your self an all natural PICK ME UP. 🙂
3. SLEEP. Falling asleep and remaining asleep is an impossible task during pregnancy. Between the leg cramps, heartburn, back pain, insomnia and bathroom breaks its a big challenge catching some zzz’s. Invest in a good maternity pillow to help you sit up slightly during your sleep. Your pillow might take up a lot of space in your bed but TOO BAD, your partner will have to suffer through it for you. 🙂 Make yourself a cup of Chamomile tea with a bit of honey and sip away as you get comfortable in your maternity pillow. Chamomile is high in calcium and magnesium which helps with sleeplessness and inflammation of joints.
4. H2O. Staying hydrated is of utmost importance. A pregnant woman needs, approximately 10 cups of fluid per day. Staying hydrated will help with these dreaded symptoms, headaches, dizziness & nausea. Drinking water will help maintain a smooth, clear complexion on your face and WHO DOESN’T WANT THAT? Swollen hands and feet are common pregnancy symptoms that are not only painful but U G L Y, drinking plenty of H2O will flush out the sodium (salt) in your system and help to minimize swelling.

Ingredients:

1 Tbsp Maca powder
2 dates
2 Tbsp chia pudding (I previously prepared this using coconut milk)
1 Tbsp Woman’s Essence (flaxseed & primrose oil)
3 bars of Cacao chocolate (pictured below)
1 frozen banana, cut in pieces
4 ice cubes
Unsweetened coconut milk-  I added this to my nutribullet cup until I reached the max line. About 1 cup

Directions:

Add all ingredients to your blender or Nutribullet, blend until smooth and enjoy!

I was able to fill my Wine glass with this super chocolatey shake and have some leftover as well. What I like to do with left over drinks is add them to these silicone freezer pops. I pop (pun intended) them into the freezer and 1 hour later you can give your children a healthy ice pop that they will LOVE and the best part is they have no idea that it’s good for them 😉
This is a great way to get your children to help you in the kitchen. Have them add the ingredients into the blender (unless you’re adding leafy greens that you don’t want them to see) or ask them to help you fill the ice pop containers. They will be so excited to try their ice pops!

Silicon ice pops that you can purchase at our Amazon store.