I can’t say that I felt much like a warrior during my first trimester. I did look and feel a little green though! I was cruising along feeling fine until week 6 came along and then I discovered that pregnancy hormones are no joke. All day nausea and extreme fatigue hit me like a ton of bricks. The fatigue was like nothing I’d felt before; it’s almost like feeling tired deep in my bones. I considered it a successful day if I could peel myself off the couch and do something productive. As someone who likes to be in motion at all times, this was a big adjustment. I said to Eric, “I’ll never complain about PMS again!!” hah. It was difficult trying to crank out blog posts because I wasn’t the least bit excited about food. Even drinking water was a struggle for my nauseous tummy. I despised water with a passion. I’ve never experienced anything quite like it. Bedtime was 8:30pm most nights (that’s if I could make it that long without falling asleep on the couch) – Sketchie has been loving all this extra cuddle time though! Some mornings I would wake up after 11 hours of sleep which I still can’t wrap my mind around. The human body just amazes me how it conserves energy when it needs to. It’s been a great lesson in trusting that my body knows best.
Anytime I need a boost, I just think of the end result and I’m filled with a burst of excitement. I feel like I’m walking around with this little friend inside of me, who goes wherever I go and lets me know when to slow down and rest. Now that I’m in the second trimester I’m starting to get back a bit of energy although the nausea is still pretty strong some days. Last week, I stayed up until 10pm a few nights – a darn miracle if you ask me! Bring on the honeymoon trimester!
Spending a lot of energy cooking hasn’t been my forte many days. That’s why smoothies continue to be such an important daily aspect of my diet. In 10 minutes, I can have a smoothie in hand that would just about rival the most nutritious meal around. I’ve been drinking this smoothie as a way to pack in a ton of nutrition with minimal effort. This smoothie was actually a contender for my cookbook, but I didn’t finalize the recipe in time. However, the photo of this smoothie did make it into the book (see page 54). A couple of you noticed the picture and asked me for the recipe, so I’m sharing it today!
Drinking this makes me feel like a bit like a warrior (even if this warrior is asleep on the couch before her favourite show comes on TV). I even started doing a 30 minute prenatal workout which is another big victory of late. It’s the small things. It really is.
Kale – Rich in folate, vitamin C and K, calcium, iron, and beta-carotene. It’s also a hormone balancer, digestion booster, anti-inflammatory, and contains omega-3 fatty acids.
Grapefruit – Rich in vitamin C and is a great detoxifier for the liver.
Cucumber – Prevents water retention, promotes a healthy digestive track, packed with bioavailable minerals, vitamins, and electrolytes.
Celery – Rich in fibre and B vitamins, prevents water retention
Apple – Source of fibre and vitamin C, helps balance blood sugar levels, boosts digestion, reduces inflammation
Algae oil (DHA rich) – A sustainable, plant-based source of omega-3 fatty acids. My go-to brand is NutraVege. Making up 97% of the fatty acids found in the brain, DHA is a very important long-chain fatty acid in the omega-3 family. It’s super important for pregnant women and children under the age of 2 as it supports brain, vision, and nerve development. Note: I don’t add this oil directly into the smoothie. I simply take it seperately so it doesn’t impact the flavour.
Virgin Coconut Oil – Coconut oil has antiviral, antifungal, and antibacterial properties. It’s rich in medium-chain triglycerides (MCTs) which help boost the metabolism and lower the risk of heart disease.
Hulled hemp seeds – A great source of complete protein, contains the ideal balance of omega 3-6-9 fatty acids, and is high in fibre. Hemp seeds also reduce inflammation in the body and balance hormones.
Mango – Rich in vitamin C, fibre, and beta-carotene. It also contains enzymes that help with the breakdown of protein in the body (great for the above protein-rich hemp seeds!).
Sources: Healing Foods: Eat your way to a healthier life, Flora Health
Featuring all new, protein-packed salads, hearty toppers, flavour boosters, and dressings you'll want to drink, my new cookbook will transform the way you think about salads. Oh, and be sure to flip to the back for a surprise dessert chapter!
Green Warrior Protein Smoothie
Yield
3 cups (750 mL)
Prep time
Cook time
0 minutes
Total time
Talk about a super charged meal in a glass! I use hemp hearts as the major protein source for this drink. In addition to being a complete protein source, hemp hearts also contain the ideal balance of omega 3-6-9 fatty acids and are high in fibre. They work wonderfully to make this smoothie super creamy, all without needing any banana. This smoothie also highlights one of my biggest cravings - the juicy red grapefruit - which is balanced with a sweet apple and buttery mango. If you prefer a sweeter smoothie, feel free to swap the grapefruit juice for coconut water or orange juice, or add a touch of liquid sweetener.
Ingredients
- 1/2 cup (125 mL) fresh red grapefruit juice*
- 1 cup (25 g) destemmed dinosaur/lacinato kale or baby spinach**
- 1 large sweet apple (200 g), cored and roughly chopped
- 1 cup (130 g) chopped cucumber
- 1 medium/large celery stalk (85 g), chopped (about 3/4 cup)
- 3 tablespoons (30 g) hemp hearts, or to taste
- 1/3 cup (55 g) frozen mango
- 2 tablespoons (4 g) packed fresh mint leaves
- 1 1/2 teaspoons (7.5 mL) virgin coconut oil (optional)
- 4 ice cubes, or as needed
Directions
- Juice a red grapefruit and add 1/2 cup grapefruit juice to the blender.
- Now add the kale (or spinach), apple, cucumber, celery, hemp, mango, mint, coconut oil (if using), and ice. Blend on high until super smooth. (If using a Vitamix, use the tamper stick to push it down until it blends). You can add a bit of water if necessary to get it blending.
- Pour into a glass and enjoy immediately! This makes enough for a large glass with some leftover so you can also divide it into two servings and save one for later.
Tip:
- * Feel free to sub the grapefruit juice with orange juice or coconut water if a sweeter smoothie is desired.
- ** I use dinosaur/lacinato kale because it has a milder flavour than regular curly kale. Feel free to use baby spinach too.
Nutrition Information
(click to expand)
The Oh She Glows Cookbook hits Costco US!
Today is a very special day – The OSG Cookbook hits shelves across Costco in the US! We are thrilled to have another major retailer pick up this cookbook. Don’t forget, it’s already in many Costco locations in Canada too. We’d love it if you could snap pictures of the book in Costco stores and share them on twitter using the hashtag #osgcookbook!
We’re packing up to move this week (ahh!) and my kitchen is all in boxes. *sniff, sniff. If you don’t hear from me again this week that’s why. Wish us luck!
I just made this and it is absolutely delicious! Thank you for the recipe :)
Finally picked up your new cookbook! Very much looking forward to it. Unlike yourself I’ve always been a huge breakfast fan and joked with my daughter that I might be eating breakfast three times a day with this new book!
I have no clue if I will get answers but I figured I’d give it a shot :)
First off: HUGE FAN. I “discovered” this website 5 years ago, when I was diagnosed with Lupus at age 17. I went vegan for a year and, much to the dismay of my doc who kept insisting I go on steroids, I have never been hospitalized due to Lupus nor have I had to take a single pill or any kind of medication. This website, your hard work, your recipes, were a huge part in helping a hard-core carnivore not only survive on but fall in LOVE with the vegan diet.
On to my questions…..
When I was vegan, I still lived at home. Now that Hubby and I are living on a tight budget: would you say being vegan is cheaper, about the same or far more expensive than eating non-vegan? I realize it does depend on several factors, but just over-all….
I keep WANTING to go back to being vegan but I find it so hard sharing a household with my meat-loving husband. It doesn’t help that our apartment is too tiny for a nice-sized freezer so I am cooking 2 separate meals when I eat vegan. Doing this all the time can get exhausting. Any tips? Encouragement? Ideas?
I just ate a bratwurst and now I feel so heavy and sick that I wish I had just had a nice BBQ’d veggie cabob with some fresh pineapple instead…mmmmm yummm….
Edith, you can cook the meat for your hubby and round out his dish with your vegan recipe. I also cook meat based meals with enough for leftovers. On meat leftover day, I make a vegan meal with enough for leftovers. Then you are only cooking one meal at a time.
This looks so good — and with all of that protein and fiber, I hope it made you feel a little bit better! I remember trying to write a monthly food column a few years ago while in the midst of bulimia/anorexia…writing about food when food is not your friend, for whatever reason, is not fun. I’m glad to hear you’re feeling a little bit better, and I hope that trend continues :)
Hopefully your “little friend” won’t cause you too much more nausea :)
I love how much goodness that is packed into this smoothie! You are your babe will be very well nourished.
Hi Angela,
I wasn’t sure of the best platform to write this, so I hope you do end up seeing this comment at some point. I just wanted to express my profound thanks to you and the recipes you create. I am about a week behind you in my pregnancy, and right at the start when I was a feeling a little off balance my doctor recommended I see a dietitian, which I did. I’ve been a vegan for a few years now, but needless to say this dietitian really shook me up and throughout the consultation constantly questioned why I wouldn’t eat meat or dairy and maybe I should just eat a little, not only for my health but for the health of my baby. This is my first pregnancy so not really knowing to do, I started to question my eating habits and ate a little of these things which just didn’t feel right, I felt horrible. Anyway, to cut an already long story short, your blog and recent cookbook have re-instilled my vegan beliefs and ideals and I am so thankful that you choose to share such nourishing and delicious recipes. I know this is the right way for me and I’m so glad to be back on track so thank you for inspiring one of your many readers, all the way from Australia! Best wishes to you for a healthy, trouble free pregnancy.
Hi there,
Sorry to hear about your experience! I just wanted to let you know (as I’ve just shared with Angela in another comment) that I had a successful vegan pregnancy myself. Fortunately, I was seeing a midwife at the time who was very supportive so I didn’t necessarily have to go through what you are now going through (though some of our family was concerned) — my best advice, and I’m not a nutritionist or a professional — just someone who has been where you are — is to eat as varied a vegan diet as you can. If you have been vegan for a while then you know what you need — plenty of iron rich and plant based proteins from beans and legumes and nuts and seeds — calcium and mineral rich greens like kale and collards — and a good vegan prenatal vitamin — that’s just a beginning but if you keep reading Angela’s blog I’m positive she will have plenty of input for you. All the best to you! Wren.
I love your blog so much because you use all natural ingredients. You’re putting “plant powered” back into veganism. Congrats on your pregnancy btw <3
Just picked up my copy at Costco in Seattle! Can’t wait to go through it. Congratulations on your book and BABY! You’re a wonderful writer and so creative in developing your recipes. I’ve loved following your blog the last few years!
Best,
Carrie
Smoothie looks tempting and it’s very helpful for me too ;) except the summer season is almost in the end here in Australia. But I would love to try as we are enjoying quite last few days of summer season.
Hope you are feeling good while reading this comment :-)
xx
I am drinking a smoothie right now while reading this ! I have a mango that just might make it’s way into this warrior protein smoothie a bit later in the day :)
Hats off for drinking green monsters during your pregnancy! So good for you and Baby. I was in love with your classic recipe…until I got pregnant. Then the thought and smell of it turned my tummy…go figure! Now my little one is 4 months and the Tropical Beauty recipe from your book has gotten me back onto the green smoothie train. I’m addicted!
Congratulations on the baby, and keep posting those bump pictures! Also, if you have time, try to keep a journal. You’ll love going back and re-living the experience (even the bad parts!) after Baby arrives. :-)
Wow! I definitely NEED to try this wonderful smoothie but I’ll use other veggie instead of kale becaus I can’t find it here in Spain :( Thanks for the recipe!!!!
Great smoothie, thoughtful use of ingredients.
Smoothies and kale salads are my go-to’s when I need a quick meal/refueling. These look so nice creamy, I want one now. Loving these photos!
I’m not a fan of smoothies as I prefer to eat my meals rather than drink them. Just a personal preference. But I loved the ingredients in this so I turned it into a salad. I cut the pink grapefruit and apple into chunks. Then added kale, chopped mint leaves, celery and cucumber slices and let it all sit overnight. This morning I sprinkled the salad with hemp hearts and shredded coconut and had it for breakfast. It was delicious! The grapefruit and mint were fantastic together. I never would have thought of this combination on my own.
Oh goodness, I’ve heard the stories. That’s how my friend knew she was pregnant, just by being incredibly, unbelievably tired! I hope this smoothie helped and hang in there!! :)
Congrats!!!! As a vegetarian/pescatarian (often vegan) looking forward to pregnancy in the near future, I’d be very interested to hear about your experiences! Thanks in advance ;)
Also, my Canadian husband bought me the Canadian version of your cookbook. Love, love, love!
Congratulations on your pregnancy Angela! I love your blog and your cookbook is amazing! I have a question for you and/or your readers: what is the best gf pizza crust recipe you have made? I am trying to cut back on gluten because it doesn’t make me feel good. I searched for recipes on your site and got hundreds of results, which left me a bit overwhelmed as to where to start. I love oats so a recipe that contains those would be so awesome. I tried a cauliflower pizza crust this past weekend and while it was ok, I just wasn’t that crazy about it as a pizza crust. Thanks so much for your help! :)
Oh my…this looks SO yummy! Best wishes on your upcoming move!
Don’t think I could drink that colour of green lol
L x
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