When you’re struggling with morning sickness, sometimes there just aren’t any foods that sound appetizing. But if you’re like me, you still worry about getting enough nutrients for both your baby and yourself. That’s where this protein-packed pregnancy smoothie comes in!
This smoothie is easy on your stomach so you’ll be able to consume it even when you can’t keep anything else down. And it contains 28.32 grams of protein, which is an essential nutrient for a healthy pregnancy.
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Pregnancy Protein Needs
When you’re pregnant, your daily protein needs increase. The American Pregnancy Association recommends getting 75 to 100 grams of protein per day. This might look like eating 3 to 5 servings of protein each day.
But why is protein so important during pregnancy? Amino acids, which make up protein, are essential for your baby’s growth. Eating enough protein will help your baby to develop their brain, as well as all of their other tissues and organs. Eating enough protein can even reduce the risk of preterm labor.
Some great sources of protein include:
- poultry
- cottage cheese
- nut butter
- lentils
- eggs
- milk
- nuts
Protein-Packed Pregnancy Smoothie Recipe
Ingredients
- 1 cup non-dairy milk (coconut, almond, oat) – .8g protein
- 1 banana – .74g protein
- 1 Tbsp nut butter (peanut, almond) – 3.4g protein
- 2 scoops collagen powder (I use this one) – 18g protein
- 2 dates, pitted – 1.25g protein
- 1 Tbsp cacao nibs – 1g protein
- 1 cup leafy greens, like kale – 2.92g
- 1 tsp cinnamon – .21g
- 1 tsp pure vanilla extract
*Nutrition facts are from FoodData Central.
Method
Combine all of the ingredients in a blender and blend until smooth. If the smoothie is too thick, add more non-dairy milk or a little bit of water. Enjoy!
Looking for a great blender? I love the NutriBullet for smoothies. Cleanup is so much easier than with a full-size blender!
How are you getting enough protein during pregnancy? Tell me in the comments!
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