I have a love/hate relationship with protein powders. I have always felt uncomfortable consuming anything that was in powder form. As a child, I used to have panic attacks around food. Mostly, meals that I could not see my mother preparing. I think some of my anxiety has spilled over into my adulthood and it definitely resides around protein powders. I have a trust issue with powdered drinks. Like, how am I sure that what they are saying is actually in there? Since becoming connected with food, I have always stood by the fact that I can get all of my nutrients from foods that I could actually feel and see. My go to protein used to be hemp seeds.
Along with not being able to actually see what is in protein powders, it has been widely discussed the amount of metal, chemical additives, non GMO's, and preservatives that are hidden in them. So I highly suggest that before you settle in on a protein powder you do your research. My go to read on protein powders can be found here here.
After I gave birth to Jack I felt like I was really struggling as a vegetarian. The hemp seed, veggie, and fruit shakes were no longer cutting it. I felt like I was constantly craving meat, which I never do. I wanted to eat eggs at almost every meal. My body felt sluggish and I felt as if I could never consume enough food. While breastfeeding, I never worried about how much food I was consuming, however I was also not particularly healthy all of the time either. Convenience over health was more so my option as a new mother. Which I have absolutely forgiven. But after 15 months of breastfeeding, our journey came to an end and it was time to start paying more attention to my body, for me, and not my son.
I began eating clean, and still ignoring my yearning for more protein. I tried to each as much veggie based protein as I possible could. And by veggies, I do not mean any form of fake meat. That is not my thing. I could feel my body was still in need of more. My Qi and my hormones were way out of balance and I just knew it was time to change something. I thought about eating meat again, maybe in the form of bone broth hidden in my soups, but I just couldn't allow myself to get there yet. I decided I would start with adding a protein powder into my regular diet and if that didn't work, I would try something else.
Well it worked. I instantly felt more energetic, less heavy, and my cravings for meat almost suddenly went away. I stick by a regular regimen of having my protein first thing in the morning so that otherwise I do not forget. Like I said before, please do your research before settling on a protein powder. I can say I have been using Nutiva's Organic Plant Protein Superfood 30 and I really like it. You can find it here.
So for that smoothie I was talking about....
Everyday Smoothie
1 Scoop of Nutiva's Organic Plant Protein Superfood 30 (Chocolate)
1 cup of almond milk or any milk choice
2 cups kale
1/2 cup organic berry blend
1/2 cup cauliflower (optional) for a creamier shake
1/2 banana
1/2 tablespoon of flaxseed
1 tsp maca
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