My digestion has been a bit out of whack over the past few months. Actually, I’m feeling a bit out of whack as a whole. Maybe I was naïve, but I really didn’t anticipate the postpartum phase to be so challenging, on many different levels. The pregnancy seems to get the most attention while the period after having a baby seems to be all about getting back to your old self as soon as possible. At least in the media. I guess I expected that for myself too, but it’s not my personal reality nor is it for many other new moms I’ve talked to. We’re almost 5 months in and I still don’t feel like I have it together. I mostly blame the overnight waking hours and sugar cravings (the cravings result from lack of sleep – it’s a vicious cycle), but it’s everything really. Life has changed in so many weird and wonderful ways. I wonder if I ever will feel like my old self, or if I’d ever want to; what I have right now is great. I say it all the time but motherhood is amazing. I pinch myself so many times a day…like, do I actually get to witness this sweet baby discover the world? It’s the kind of thing that fills my heart with so much joy it keeps me up at night because I know that it could all be taken away in a second.
The intensity seems to be lifting as the months go on. We are laughing so much every day! I’m convinced Adriana is a 90 year old woman trapped in a baby’s body. Seriously…she does this lip-sucking in thing that makes her look like she forgot her dentures. I die every time. She is my number one priority and because of this I think I have let my own self fall to the wayside. It’s the cliché saying about motherhood, but it’s been so true. For me, this seemed necessary to get through the first months as a new parent, but I’m getting to that place now where I think I can find a balance for both of us. The fog is lifting. This is where a plant-based diet can help in so many great ways! I think I’ve done a good job of staying healthy this past year, but there are a few things I would like to improve upon.
The advice I often give to others is to make small changes when starting out, so that’s what I’ve been doing recently. Just a bunch of little tweaks that all contribute to the whole. Baby steps. Rather than having caffeine in the morning (which doesn’t seem to agree with my anxiety-prone nature), I’ve switched to a tea made with fresh ginger, fresh turmeric, and Rooibos tea. I drink it all day long. A few other things I’m doing (almost) everyday – green protein smoothie, exercise, probiotics (plus my other regular vitamin regime), and hitting the hay earlier. There’s nothing ground-breaking or gimmicky here, but they are things that just WORK time and time again. Sure there are days when none of these things happen, but for the most part it’s helping!
While this smoothie is different from my regular morning protein smoothie, it makes for a lovely afternoon snack. You could probably add some hemp hearts to this one if you wanted to boost the protein enough for a morning drink.
This smoothie combines the power of many digestion-friendly and immune-boosting foods:
// Pineapple // Digestive and anti-inflammatory benefits, immune support. One cup gives you 105% of your daily Vitamin C requirements. I use frozen pineapple chunks in smoothies to save time.
// Fresh ginger // Soothes the intestinal tract and helps with digestion. Awesome for all kinds of gastrointestinal relief, such as morning sickness. Anti-inflammatory and immune boosting.
// Fresh parsley // Rich in vitamins K, C, A, folate, and antioxidants. It’s a natural diuretic which can help release water retention. Opt for flat-leaf parsley as it’s less bitter than curly parsley. Cilantro would be a nice swap here too!
// Avocado // Major anti-inflammatory benefits + heart-healthy fats. High in fibre which aids with digestion.
// Banana // Rich in B6, manganese, Vitamin C, fibre, and potassium. Interesting to note – while bananas are high in sugar, they have a low glycemic index score which means that they won’t spike blood sugar levels. It’s soothing to the digestive track and thought to regulate the bowels and enhance friendly gut bacteria.
// Lemon // Rich in vitamin C. Aids digestion and helps flush out toxins.
[Source: The World’s Healthiest Foods]
I also add some coconut water and probiotic powder for an extra boost! Feel free to add a handful of spinach or kale too.
Happy Digestion Smoothie
Yield
2 1/4 cups (560 mL)
Prep time
Cook time
0 minutes
Total time
This green smoothie is packed with digestion-enhancing and immune-boosting foods like pineapple, parsley, ginger, and avocado. Don't worry though; its sweet flavour makes it friendly for green smoothie newbies! If you are adverse to the spiciness of ginger, I recommend starting with half the amount and adding to taste from there. This smoothie also keeps well overnight. I will often make a double batch, save leftovers in a small mason jar in the fridge overnight, and enjoy it the next morning.
Ingredients
- 1 heaping cup frozen pineapple chunks
- 1/2 large frozen banana
- 1/2 cup (125 mL) water
- 1/2 cup (125 mL) coconut water
- 1/4 cup packed fresh parsley leaves
- 2 tablespoons avocado
- 1 teaspoon packed fresh grated ginger
- 1/4 teaspoon probiotic powder, optional
- lemon or lime slice, for garnish
Directions
- Add all ingredients into a blender and blend on the highest speed until super smooth.
Tip:
- Feel free to add a handful of baby spinach to boost the nutrient power even more.
- Fresh mint also gives this smoothie a nice digestion boost (not to mention a delicious minty flavour).
Nutrition Information
(click to expand)
PS – I had the pleasure of being interviewed by Publisher’s Weekly recently – hop on over and read the interview here!
I’m glad to hear that the heaviness is lifting a little bit every day and that you’re being gentle with yourself in the process. I don’t have kids but I know that my digestion is SO related to my stress level and schedule – I can’t even imagine what it would be like adding a baby to the mix. Bookmarking this beautiful recipe and will try it out soon! Thanks for posting, Angela.
x Kathryn
Through the Thicket
Do you have a recommendation for a probiotic powder brand/type? There are so many choices!
YAY another wonderful smoothie!
I am allergic to banana, what would you suggest as an alternative to banana in your smoothies? I usually use frozen avocado, but in this case there is already avocado in the smoothie. Thanks Angela!!
– Katie
Thanks Katie! I suggested to another reader above to try increasing the avocado to 1/4 cup to ensure it’s still nice and creamy when leaving out the banana. You might want to add sweetener or another fruit to taste too.
I think what you’re processing is beautiful. I’m actually excited for motherhood because I know it will help me stop having the mindset that a perfect diet and body is achievable. There are more things to life than watching everything we eat and how intense of a workout we can get in. I think Mom’s are blessed to gain a different view of life!
Agreed :) It’s been refreshing for sure.
Yum, I cannot wait to try this soon! I know my husband will love it too!
Sounds delicious! Definitely something I must try!
This smoothie is just what I needed, Angela! Though I haven’t recently had a baby (lol not at all!) I’ve also been feeling a bit out of whack lately and need something like this to help me get back on track! It’s funny how small changes (giving up caffeine was a big one for me) can make such a difference! Wishing you a wonderful week!
Definitely perfect to brighten up any morning…and great for flu season!
I had no idea how good parsley was for our bodies! This is super helpful, I’m always looking for smoothies to calm my system. Thanks!! :)
I think this is just what I need. I don’t half of the ingredients, but I have the important ones! I’ll make some subs and give it a go.
First congratulation and welcome to real life! Mom life! I have four of my own . I Love everything you write and everything you do. I know everyone will give you bits of advice on what to do etc… I remember hating this part of being a new mom! The only thing i regret being a stay at home mom is … i thought i had enjoyed every moments and i did but its never enough?
When these cute older “nice women” would stop me and say” you are lucky ! Take your time and enjoy it! It goes by sooo fast ! ” i believed them and i did savour every moments but now that my baby is 11 and i look back, im like… Where did time go? I was so much in my mommy bubble and busy with chores , food prep , laundry etc.. Which is called life! It really flew by. Even though we would stop at every puddle of water after a rainfall… Smell every flowers along the path on our way back home after a long walk in the woods with the dog, after watching my baby sleeping for hours just to realise it was supper time ! I used to call these my little waste of time ( good waste of time ). I still feel today that it wasnt enough! I still miss those baby days even though they were so tough at times !
Give yourself a break ! 5 months is nothing to get back on your feet and to be back to yourself? This statement makes me laugh as we all say that and all want that! The fact is that its impossible as you werent’ a mom before. Youd had never carried a baby in your uterus before, you never had to think of another human being that came from you before , you never had to care for your own blood before and the list goes on?
If you had lost your mom, would five months be good enough to be back to your old self? The fact is … Duhh! No ! You would never be the same. Your life would be changed forever . You would eventually learn to live with it and move forward, but in five months? Not sure about that . For any big life changing experiences… A year of adjusting is actually normal and necessary. Please don’t skip phases , be not so great, not so organized, not so nice or happy . You are normal. enjoy and savor the changes , the ups and downs ,good or bad they are there to stabilize your new life and your new self . The real Angela is still there just in modification mode. I remember at some point not wanting my life to change just cause i had a kid that i kept focussing on going to all sorts of places so he would be used to me going everywhere and passing him to all , as i wanted him to get used to all of my friends and family etc… That at some point i realized that my first born was a few months old and i missed his newborn self ! It flew by. Thank god i had a second one ,third and fourth! Ha! Ha! Ok this is turning into a therapy for me hahah! Sorry i just wanted to encourage you and to tell you… To give yourself a break! Don’t be so hard on yourself. It’s ok to be off the track for a bit , sometimes you even have to change tracks or make your own ! Sometimes you even have to get off the track and walk baby steps. This reminds me of my best gift ever after having kids. Its now the family bible ! It’s the book by Dr. Seuss ” oh ! All the places you’ll go ” . I’ve used it for myself as a guide ,for my kids when they were going through tough times, for my sister inlaw when she got separated ( everyday i would send her a passage of where she was at, to give her hope) , i even used it as a grade 12 graduation gift for my godchild ( which made the usually though girl cry, as she understood the greatness of it! ) . If i could i would send one to you . Hopefully you already have it! Use it and see the depth in it :) ok so sorry im done with the lecture haha! I just want to say i love everything you do and write on your site and in your fantastic cookbook ! And im not even vegan … Yet! Haha! Have a wonderful journey! Sorry about my writting … The french acadian in me lol.
This is so great. Thanks for your honesty and encouragement! I know what you mean about soaking up the moments but still not feeling like there are enough!
I have a five month old as well – it’s so hard not to look forward to the next step (crawling, walking, etc). I’ve never been good at just living in the moment. Trying so hard to do this!
I have a 4 month little one myself – and I feel just like you described in your first paragraph. Feel a bit turned upside down – and it is time to start making so little tweaks to find my balance. Do you use protein powder in your breakfast smoothie? I am still breastfeeding, and I don’t know anything about using protein powders while breastfeeding. Obviously I should check with my Dr., but I am curious as to what your recipe is!
This looks great, thanks for sharing! I noticed above the recipe that you note lemon like it’s an ingredient, but then in the recipe it’s listed only as a garnish. Should lemon be added into the smoothie also and, if so, how much do you recommend? Ginger and lemon (or lime) is one of my favorite flavor combinations, so I don’t want to miss out on it! :)
I love all the pictures! I recently have been craving green smoothies with more ginger in them, so I make one with chia, greens, apple, lemon, turmeric, and ginger almost every day. Idk where the craving came from, but so far I am loving it. It is super refreshing!
Hang in there! I have a 2.5 year old. It has taken me two years to start to feel “normal” and I don’t think I will ever be my old self. Instead I’ve been replaced by a 2.0 version that has some improvements and some draw backs.
I appreciate all your recipes! They have helped the 2.0 self find my way back. I now eat thanks to your smoothie (I couldn’t figure out how to feed myself with a no-nap toddler on the move). I can’t wait to try the new smoothie.
I LOVE your thumb print breakfast cookie recipe. I make it with my toddler and I don’t have to worry about him licking the bowl. Thank you for creating recipes we can make together!
My son was born the same week as your daughter so they are going through a lot of the same phases together. We call him Mildred when he has the “I lost my dentures face” on. It doesn’t help that he is a bald baby!
I haven`t read you in a while, a long while, and it just makes me so happy to read this post, I have a 4 month old baby boy, and I exactly know how are you feeling, thanks for sharing this, It will help me a lot! Congrats on being a beautiful, healthy, and human mom!
Literally read my mind! Small changes are what matter, and nourishing our bodies should always be a top priority-and it gets tough, especially when we are in transition or “weird” zones. The smoothie looks great (as I guzzle down a kale-lemon-coconut concoction)…will try this one when I have more avocado on hand :)
You described the postpartum period perfectly. Our little one is almost 5.5 months and there are many moments when I still don’t feel like myself, physically and especially mentally! Food is certainly medicine, especially after sleepless nights. Thanks for all that you do, you’re love of food and nutrition is wonderful.
This was perfect! Creamy and smooth and delicious and just sweet enough Just what I needed, thank you!