The Mocha Almond Smoothie: A Sleepless Mom’s Savior

I was never a big coffee drinker. That, of course, changed once I became a mom.

After waking up six (seven? eight?) times each night for months, the smell of those ground coffee beans was the only way I could break out of my zombie haze.

But coffee alone can’t get me through the morning. I also need a substantial breakfast (breastfeeding can make you seriously hangry…).

So, that’s where I got creative and combined my cup of blissful coffee with breakfast.

This mocha almond smoothie ranks among my top picks, and I’ve made quite a few over the years. The almond butter makes it thick while still being drinkable and the dates give it a little touch of all-natural sweetness.

As far as which protein to use, I prefer a combination of Shaklee’s vanilla LIFE protein with the Instant Soy and then I add unsweetened cacao to it. Cacao is a superfood with big-time antioxidant benefits– a must for any chocoholics, like me, who are trying to minimize sugar.

Mamas, what are some other things that help you get through the morning when you’ve had a crappy night of sleep? Tell us in the comments!