Chocolate Maca Smoothie

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Have you heard of maca?

It’s one of those supplements that can make a big ol’ difference for us ladies. A regular dose can help reduce stress, boost libido and combat fatigue. Pretty much, maca is a godsend to hormones. Specifically, it has been known to address issues related to lame periods, infertility, skin discoloration, mama beards/whiskers, sleep issues, depression and moodiness.

And, as I confessed, with the return of my cycle – I’ve got the moods big time! That’s what initially drew me to maca. Since not having a period since 2009, it seems as though I’m on a rough road to leveling out my hormones. And yes, that’s not a typo … December of 2009 was my last period, then I was pregnant with Jem, breastfeeding her and then got pregnant with Max when she was 13 months old. Max has steadily nursed and I didn’t seem my first postpartum period until this March when he was 19 months old!

So … maca. You need it, I need it, but don’t you dare try to just swallow a spoonful. It doesn’t taste good! At all! Lucky for you though, I found a super way to mask the taste while consuming a decent dose on the regular.

Here’s how to whip up what I call a Chocolate Maca Smoothie. It tastes like a Mounds bar and is the perfect way to begin your day!

Ingredients

• 1 frozen banana
• 1 cup almond milk
• 1/4 cup chocolate Carnation Breakfast Essentials
• 3 tablespoons shredded coconut — up to a 1/4 cup if you really like coconut like me
• 1/2 teaspoon maca — start with this and work up to 1 teaspoon
• 6-7 ice cubes

Direction

Pop everything into your blender, blend until smooth, pour into a mason jar (because that’s the only way to drink a smoothie these days) and enjoy not only your smoothie, but better balanced hormones!

For quick reference, I posted the recipe and a quick lil’ Flipgram over on Instagram too, @thatmamagretchen.

I get my maca via Amazon and don’t miss the must-have chocolate infusion from Carnation Breakfast Essentials – it is available at Safeway and is the key ingredient in masking the maca flavor. I promise, I’ve tried other chocolatey options and Carnation is a must! Plus, the boost of protein (13g) and extra vitamins make it an easy choice for any smoothie that needs a chocolate twist!

Find other great Carnation Breakfast Essentials breakfast ideas here and follow Carnation on Facebook for more recipes and promotions.

I’m not a medical professional and maca is a supplement that you should take with care. I’ve read anecdotal advice that it is safe during pregnancy and while breastfeeding, but of course, there are no official studies on this. Talk with your primary care provider and do your own research to determine if maca is a good fit for you.