NutritiousMeg

Whenever something new comes into my life, when I’m learning a new skill, or trying to achieve a specific goal I tend to get a little obsessive about it.  I’ll read about it constantly, I’ll talk about it all the time, and I usually have a difficult time balancing it with the other things in my life.  Right now the topic is pregnancy and baby.  Not only am I pregnat but there’s also a boom of new babies and pregnant women everywhere.  I’m surrounded by babies!

I’ve got my adorable nephew Blake:Stacy has Byrdie, Adel has Sophia and Violet, Chantal has Soleil, Kim has Reece, Michelle has Keenan, Nicole has Isabella, Tiana has Thiago, Tammy has Elizabeth and Alexander, Tania has Freja, and THEN Toni, Emma, and Ali all have babies on the way!  How could babies not be on on my mind?

I’ve got lists going for what we need to buy to get set-up for a new family member, I’ve got a list of questions that I want to ask my midwife, I’ve got lists of books on birthing, nursing, and raising a child that I want to order, and the lists go on….Despite all of these wonderful distractions I’ve also been learning about how to take excellent care of my own and my baby’s health with great nutrition, a good supplement program, and stress reduction techniques-the lists being one of them: get it out of your head and onto paper is a great way for me to clear my mind.

So the point of this post is to inform all of my readers that some of the upcoming blogs may be talking a little about having a healthy pregnancy, pre-natal nutrition, nutrition to get you back on track after birth, introduction of foods to babies, etc…I hope this is helpful for all the pregnant women and new moms out there.  For those of you who aren’t the least bit interested in pregnancy, not to worry, I’ll be posting regular blogs as well.

Also, if anyone has any specific questions about nutrition, supplements, common health conditions, pre-natal info, etc…post a comment here on the blog and I’d be happy to write about it.  Not only is this a space for my readers to learn, it’s also a great opportunity for me to learn.

Getting onto today’s mini-post….

Getting enough of the right nutrients is one of the biggest concerns that an expectant mother faces, this is definitely not the time to deprive yourself!  It’s a strange feeling though; your body starts to change and grow and there’s nothing you can do about it…I think it’s fun, it’s the one time in my life where I have no choice but to let the “control freak” side of me go.  To ensure that there’s enough protein, good fat (DHA for brain development), calcium, magnesium, iron, zinc, B vitamin (folic acid included), probiotics, etc…it’s important to be put on an excellent supplement program during pregnancy.  Supplements combined with a balanced diet of predominantly whole foods will ensure you and your growing baby will get everything it needs to thrive.  Personally, I find the need to eat every 3 hours because I’m constantly hungry and I’m already noticing that my portion sizes need to be smaller.

Anyhow, I thought I’d share a recipe for a “baby shake” that’s nutrient dense and also suitable for those who are not expecting.  It’s great as a snack, a meal, or for after a workout.  Smoothies are great because you can pack them full of healthy items, you can adjust them to your specific tastes, and they’re easily digested.

Baby Belly Shake

• 1/2 cup unsweetened almond milk
• 1 banana (frozen or raw)
• 1/2 cup blueberries (frozen or raw)
• 1/2 cup plain full-fat yogurt
• 1-2 tsp blackstrap molasses
• 1 tbsp ground flaxseeds
• 1 cup packed spinach
• 1/3 tsp kelp
• 1 tbsp maple syrup or agave nectar (optional)

Blend and add enough water until it reaches your desired consistency.  I add 1/2 scoop of New Zealand whey protein to mine, another option is 1 tbsp of almond butter.  Just whipped up one of these shakes for myself and gall-dang it was good!