*This blog post was sponsored by Vega and Silk.
So this week was eventful. I worked, worked out, explored, prepared for baby and gave birth.
What a whirlwind.
Without going into too much detail here I have to say that I found the birthing experience shockingly enjoyable. I ended up having a completely natural unmedicated birth that taught me so much about myself and the woman I have become. It was powerful, transformative and life changing.
What I wasn’t prepared for was the stress and frustration of waiting for my breast milk to come in. It was a challenge physically, mentally and emotionally. One thing I did right away was check my diet.
After I had our baby (I will do a full post on the end of my pregnancy and introducing our sweet baby girl at a later date) I was all of the sudden consumed by the pressure for my milk to come in. My milk was slower to come in than I expected and with that came a lot of pain.
Everyone says when you breast feed you are hungry all of the time. I wasn’t. I had the exact opposite experience and I am still finding it a challenge to eat. My solution has been drinking nutrient dense superfood lactation smoothies that target milk production head on.
While breast feeding you need an extra 500 calories per day. Those calories are best made up of healthy fats, fruits and veggies and plant based protein.
This superfood lactation smoothie has it all.
Requirements for calcium, iron and folic acid are increased in breast feeding and the foods included in my recipe below help me meet these levels.
Traditionally fenugreek and red raspberry leaves have been used to help with milk production. This smoothie contains a cooled tea of this combination.
In my lactation smoothie I decided to turn to herbs, fruits, vegetables, protein powder and almond milk to help my milk production be the best it could be.
The recipe below is a smoothie that I have been enjoying and it seems to be helping.
Vega ONE was a great option for protein for this smoothie as it is a superfood on its own. It contains a greens blend, vitamins, minerals, omega 3s and is 100% plant based. It is dairy free, sugar free and soy free. With 20g of protein in each scoop only 1 one scoop is necessary.
My favorite flavor is the french vanilla. I find it goes with everything.
For this recipe I used Silk unsweetened almond milk but I have to say my new favorite Silk milk is their Creamy Cashew. It is delicious. It is the perfect milk for anyone who enjoys dairy and is trying to reduce it. It is great in smoothies, coffee and cereal.
This recipe is vegan, gluten free, dairy free, high fiber, nutrient dense and perfect for breast feeding energy.
If you make this recipe or any other from the DAMY Health Blog or The Healthy Rebel App please make sure to use the hashtags #DAMYHealth & #HealthyRebel when sharing your pictures on Facebook, Pinterest and Instagram so I can enjoy your versions of my treats!
#SilkSummerofSmoothies #ad
SILK UNSWEETENED ALMOND MILK
- 30 calories per serving
- no added sugar
- equal calcium to dairy milk
- high in vitamin D
- low saturated fat
- no cholesterol
- dairy, soy, lactose, gluten, casein, egg and msg free
- non-GMO project verified
- no artificial colours, flavours or funny business
VEGA ONE
- an all-in-one shake to help meet your daily nutritional needs
- 20 grams of protein
- 160 calories per serving
- vibrant greens blend
- vitamins and minerals from real plant based ingredients
- 25% recommend daily intake of fiber
- omega 3s ALA, antioxidants and 1 billion CFU probiotics
- no added sugar, dairy or soy ingredients
- non-GMO project verified
Ingredients:
- 1 Scoop Vega ONE French Vanilla
- 1 Cup Silk Unsweetened Almond Milk
- 1 Cup Coconut Water
- 2 Handfuls Spinach
- 2 Cups Frozen Fruit Mix of Banana, Kiwi and Strawberry (or a combination of your favorites)
- 1 Tbsp Hemp Seeds
- 1 tsp Fenugreek Leaves
- 1 tsp Red Raspberry Leaves
Directions:
- Steep one tsp of fenugreek and one tsp of red raspberry leaves in 1 cup of boiling water for 5 minutes.
- Set aside and let cool for 10 minutes.
- Strain tea.
- Place cooled tea and all other ingredients into your blender.
- Blend until smooth.
- Serve and enjoy.
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