Protein Packed Smoothie

All righty, so for those who don't know, I am unexpectedly pregnant at 41 with our fourth baby. Shane and I are still trying to digest a baby AND cancer all in the same year. I haven't chronicled my pregnancy because, frankly, I've barely thought about it. Cancer has been all-consuming this year (discovering I was pregnant and Shane's Stage 4 Melanoma diagnosis came all in a one-month period). But for the last trimester of this pregnancy I'm going to attempt to share a few thoughts and tips. And please don't worry, I have continued moving my body, eating real food, getting sunshine every day, good posture...doing all the basics. This baby is going to be a-ok.

Protein is essential in nourishing our growing babies and preventing pregnancy complications like gestational diabetes and preeclampsia. And the your protein intake needs increase as you move through your pregnancy. Since I'm in my last trimester, I'm aiming for 100 g/day. Some days I just want to drink my protein and this is what I make. For an in-depth discussion of protein in pregnancy, you can check out Lily Nichol's article and her excellent book, Real Food for Pregnancy.

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Chocolate-Banana Peanut Butter Smoothie

• 1 c. almond milk (1 g)---you can sub cashew milk, cow's milk whatever floats your boat! Malk almond milk is our fave.

• 2 cups raw organic spinach (1.5 g)---optional, but oh so good for you

• 2 scoops collagen (18 g)

• 1 frozen banana

• 2 TBS organic tahini or organic peanut butter (8 g)

• 1 TBS maca powder (1 g)---optional (you'll find it at Trader Joe's)

• 2 TBS cacao powder (2 g)--cacao is the unprocessed version of cocoa (you'll find it at Trader Joe's)

• Pinch of sea salt

Blend almond milk and spinach first. Then, add all other ingredients and blend again until very smooth.

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That's 31.5 g of protein, folks. Bam! Full disclosure, this does NOT taste like a Jamba Juice smoothie, but pretty damn drinkable if you ask me.