As a self-proclaimed smoothie queen (and registered dietitian), it was only right I came up with a signature smoothie recipe for all of us preggy girlies. So, let me introduce you to my Preggy Date Smoothie.
We’re officially on baby watch at the moment, but I came up with this one when I was about 38 weeks pregnant and it’s been a daily staple for me since.
Hear me out though: although this smoothie recipe was inspired by the end of my third trimester, it’s definitely one I’ll be coming back to even after the baby is here. It’s so good!
DATES FOR DAYS
By now, whether you’re preggo or not, you’ve probably heard that eating dates towards the end of pregnancy is a thing.
There’s research that shows if you eat up to 6 dates a day, starting around 36 or 37 weeks of pregnancy, it can help soften or ripen your cervix leading up to your big day. It’s also been said that it may reduce your need for labor induction. And as a first-timer, I’m definitely willing to give this dates-for-days thing a try, cause why not!
In all seriousness though, IYKYK that I take pride in my approach to health and wellness – it’s so important for overall wellbeing – and I’ve only prioritized it more since I’ve had a little one on the way. If you’re interested, I’ve got a whole pregnancy tab on my site with a variety of posts on nutrition, fitness, and little tips I’ve incorporated along the way.
A SUPERFOOD-PACKED, DELICIOUS DATE SMOOTHIE
Ok, so back to the smoothie. I know a lot of my fellow bump twins out there are having a tough time getting in that many dates a day without being disgusted by them. So, this Preggy Date Smoothie is a perfectly delicious, slightly sneaky way to pack them in. Thank me after you try it!
Let me give you a quick rundown on all the ingredients here:
- Frozen Dates: the tastiest little fruits from the Date Palm Tree. These are obviously the star ingredient of this recipe for all of the reasons above + they’re high in fiber and antioxidants. Using frozen dates for this recipe is key for flavor!
- Frozen Banana: a staple in almost all of my smoothie recipes (find them all here on my site), bananas are a great source of potassium, and when frozen, provide the creamiest texture.
- Vanilla Protein Powder: I use 1.5 servings of one of My 6 Favorite Protein Powders to give me about 30 grams of protein. Being pregnant, we need a lot of protein for us and the baby.
- Cashew Butter: for healthy fats, and an extra boost of protein and other nutrients. It’s more subtle in taste, but feel free to use whichever nut butter you prefer.
- Ground Flaxseeds: for fiber and omega-3’s.
- Cinnamon: I use a little bit of Ceylon cinnamon to give it that “cinnamon roll” taste. Cinnamon’s known to be helpful in reducing blood sugar + it contains antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects.
- Vanilla Bean Paste: optional, but I like to add it for flavor!
- Unsweetened Almond Milk: I’m lactose intolerant so I typically use an unsweetened nut milk in my smoothies, but any milk of choice will work here.
Btw, this is a great smoothie for breastfeeding too. And even if you’re not pregnant, it’s definitely worth trying! Just reduce to 2 dates instead of 5.
I hope you all enjoy this yummy Preggy Date Smoothie. Sending all the mamas-to-be so much love. Cheers!
INGREDIENTS YOU’LL NEED:
- Milk of choice (I used unsweetened almond milk)
- Ice
- Frozen banana
- Frozen pitted dates (frozen is key here for the flavor)
- Vanilla protein powder (click here for links to a couple of my go-to’s)
- Cashew butter
- Ground flaxseed
- Cinnamon
- Vanilla bean paste (optional, for flavor)
HOW TO MAKE MY PREGGY DATE SMOOTHIE
Add all ingredients to a high-powered blender and blend until completely smooth. Pour into your favorite glass with a straw (or enjoy straight from the blender). That’s it!
Note: for optimal blending, it may vary by blender (check for any specific instructions for the blender you’re using), but it’s usually recommended to add smoothie ingredients in the following order – liquids, ice, produce (frozen or fresh), leafy greens, then powders, seeds, nuts, nut butters.
Head to my Amazon storefront (linked here) for the link to the blender I used + some of my favorite protein powders, glassware and more. Also, find a direct link to my 6 favorite protein powders HERE.
I hope you enjoy this smoothie too!
RECIPE SUBSTITUTIONS & QUESTIONS
You can easily customize this smoothie based on your preferences or what you already have. Use your milk of choice (dairy or non-dairy), preferred nut butter, and your favorite vanilla protein powder. A link to my 6 favorite protein powders can be found HERE if you need any recommendations, but I suggest sticking to the vanilla flavor, or unflavored if you plan to use the vanilla bean paste, which is optional.
Using frozen bananas, and especially frozen dates, is key. If you add the dates in unfrozen, they’re going to be chunky and not as appetizing. Freezing ahead of time makes them taste like little chunks of caramel (so good!).
This recipe calls for 5 dates, but you can reduce to 2 dates if you’re not pregnant, as it’s otherwise too much sugar for the average person.
WHY USE FROZEN INGREDIENTS IN SMOOTHIES?
Frozen ingredients help to make a thicker, smoother, creamier smoothie. It’s also been said that frozen fruit can retain more nutrients than fresh fruit, which can also be more convenient (+ sometimes less expensive) to stock up on if you’re making smoothies more often.
ARE HOMEMADE SMOOTHIES HEALTHY TO DRINK EVERYDAY?
In my opinion, as long as you’re making a balanced smoothie with key nutrients like protein, fat and fiber, a smoothie a day can be a great meal replacement, snack or pre/post-workout. It can be especially great for picky eaters to get nutrients and greens in their diet that they otherwise might not get. And in the case of this Preggy Date Smoothie, an easy, helpful way for all the girlies to get their dates in leading up to the big day.
SHOP THIS RECIPE:
LOVE MY PREGGY DATE SMOOTHIE? HERE ARE MORE SMOOTHIES AND DATE-BASED RECIPES TO TRY:
Click here to watch the reel I made of this recipe 🙂
Pregnancy Preggy Date Smoothie
Equipment
- high speed blender
Ingredients
- 1 cup milk of choice, (I used unsweetened almond milk)
- 1 cup ice
- 1/2 frozen banana
- 5 frozen pitted dates, **frozen is key here for the flavor and texture
- 1.5 servings vanilla protein powder, (use the search bar on my site or Amazon storefront for my favorites)
- 1-2 tablespoons cashew butter, (or your favorite nut butter, but I find cashew butter to be very subtle)
- 1 tablespoon ground flaxseed
- 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
- 1/4 teaspoon vanilla bean paste, (optional, for flavor)
Instructions
- Add all ingredients to a high-powered blender and blend until completely smooth. Pour into your favorite glass with a straw (or enjoy straight from the blender). That’s it!
- Note: for optimal blending, it may vary by blender (check for any specific instructions for the blender you’re using), but it’s usually recommended to add smoothie ingredients in the following order – liquids, ice, produce (frozen or fresh), leafy greens, then powders, seeds, nuts, nut butters.
I have been eating different breakfast items during my first trimester including cereal but I’ve been burning through it so fast! I wanted something cold that could hold me over and came across Rachael’s smoothie recipe on social media and decided to give it a try! I didn’t have any dates so I excluded it and wow, this is AMAZING! It is SO tasty and holds me over for HOURS instead of just 30 minutes. I have made it every morning for the past week or two and will be going out to buy some dates!