Pregnancy Superfood Smoothie: Mama Bird Blend

by Alexandra Dawson, In My Bowl

A very simple, indulgent yet healthful smoothie, utilizing summer berries, ripe banana and avocado, and a handful of super-powered superfoods, this sip is not only ideal for invigorating your and your little babe’s health throughout pregnancy’s nine months, but is a perfect and portable, complete and balanced meal.

Keep your plant based pregnancy smoothie on the thinner side to sip on-the- go or feel free to add a bit less almond milk when blending, serving yours in a bowl topped with an extra handful of fresh or frozen berries, nutty granola, and coconut flakes.

HERE’S WHY YOU SHOULD BE SIPPING

Almond Milk: calcium is essential during pregnancy, not only assisting in long-term maternal bone health, but in your little babe’s skeletal mineralization, with intake needs peaking during the third trimester. Being sure to reach for a calcium fortified and unsweetened option, almond milk is high in calcium (providing nearly your daily calcium requirement in one glass!) as well as zinc, and vitamins A, B12 and D. Not to mention all the creamy dreaminess of milk, sans cow.

Avocado: during pregnancy, 33% of a mama’s total calories should be comprised of healthful fats, used as an energy source for baby’s growth and development as well as for enhancing the bioavailability of fat soluble vitamins. Rich in ‘good’ fats (think mono- and polyunsaturated fatty acids) and numerous other vitamins and minerals, avocados are considered a nutritional powerhouse.

Bananas:  during pregnancy, 45-65% of total calories should be comprised of unrefined and unprocessed carbohydrates- vegetables, fruits, and whole-grain options also rich in (‘regularity’ enhancing) fiber, phytochemical, antioxidants, and other essential nutrients. Bananas are an excellent and natural source of carbohydrates and potassium and have also been shown to help reduce nausea symptoms (see yah morning sickness).

Berries: antioxidant consumption is especially important during pregnancy, helping protect fetal DNA from damage and also reducing maternal tissue damage associated with inflammation and oxidization. Strawberries and goji berries are both amazing sources, also rich in immune boosting vitamin C. Dried goji berries are available year round, but be sure to select either fresh or frozen strawberries, blackberries, raspberries, and blueberries based on seasonal accessibility for peak nutritional value.

Chia Seeds: chia seeds are a plant based source of omega-3 fatty acids, essential for your little babe’s neural growth and development. Often found in fish, fish oils, and seafood, chia is not only mercury free, but once soaked, assists in making your smoothie thicker and creamier without contributing too much of its own taste.

Spinach: cooked or raw, spinach is an excellent source of folate, preventative against maternal anemia, reduced fetal growth, and congenital abnormalities such as neural-tube and brain and heart defects. Because folate is not always the most bioavailable in everyday foods, it's also worth looking into fortified options as well as supplementing with a prenatal vitamin.

Mama Bird Blend [makes 1 smoothie, 16 ounces]

1 ¼ cups unsweetened almond milk
1 tablespoon chia seeds
1 large ripe banana, peeled and frozen
1 cup baby spinach
½ cup strawberries, frozen
¼ ripe avocado, peel and pit removed
1 tablespoon dried goji berries

Instructions:

In a small bowl, stir together chia seeds and ¼ cup almond milk until well combined. Allow to sit for 15-20 minutes, or until chia forms a thicker gel. 

Transfer now gelled chia to a high-speed blender and add in the remainder of the ingredients, beginning with 1 cup almond milk. Whiz until smoothie is very creamy and smooth, adding additional almond milk if you’d like your smoothie thinner and more drinkable (as opposed to thicker for a smoothie bowl). Pour into your favorite glass or bowl, sip or spoon away, and enjoy!

Nutritional Information [per recipe]
350 Calories, 13.5g Fat, 56.5g Carbohydrates, 15g Fiber, 22g Sugar, 9.5g Protein

---

ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Alexandra Dawson // @tallulahalexandra is a Washington, D.C.-based nutritionist, mama bird, and the writer and photographer behind plant-based lifestyle and recipe website www.inmybowl.com and Instagram,@tallulahalexandra.

Extremely passionate about whole body wellness, through In My Bowl and Tallulah, Alexandra actively strives to make that philosophy and lifestyle accessible to every demographic.