The information included in this post is for educational purposes only. It is not intended nor implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice. Always consult your healthcare provider to determine the appropriateness of the information for your own situation, or if you have any questions regarding conception, pregnancy, or your prenatal treatment plan.
By Stephanie Greunke, Registered Dietitian
Whole30 Rules vs. Recommendations
Our team has occasionally mentioned nutrient-dense smoothies as an option for those who would like to do a Pregnant Whole30 and are battling morning sickness or food aversions. Our stance is that while smoothies are not recommended during a Whole30, they might be a good option for someone who is suffering from morning sickness and is looking for a palatable source of nutrition during their Whole30.
To be clear, we don’t expect you to Whole30 throughout your entire pregnancy (or maybe at all) and we’ll be the first person to tell you to reconsider doing a Whole30 at all in the first trimester because we KNOW how hard it can be to stick to the plan. But maybe you started a Whole30 before nausea/morning sickness hit and want to finish strong? This option is there if you need it!
Low-sugar, balanced, nutrient-dense smoothies can be a convenient option if the desire to eat competes with what you know your body needs. Throw some greens, fruit, liquid, healthy fat, fiber and a 100% egg white or pea protein powder (or collagen peptides, if your provider approves) in a blender and you’re good to go.
There is minimal clean-up and prep work involved. Plus, you don’t have to navigate the smell of cooked proteins or vegetables that can totally throw you off.
However, while the concept is simple, there are a few considerations we’d like to share before you start sipping.
Not Your Average Smoothie
When you’re following a Whole30, nutrient-dense smoothies are technically compatible, but discouraged because food that you drink sends different satiety signals to your brain than food that you chew. If you’re always needing a mid-morning snack break after your smoothie, that kind of defeats the convenience factor. I’ll address how to solve this issue later on in this post.
Another major consideration is sugar content. Consider this: a banana, 1/2 cup orange juice, 1/2 cup of frozen strawberries, a handful of spinach, and 1 cup plain, unsweetened yogurt sounds like a healthy way to start the morning, right?
But wait a minute—even though the sugar is coming from whole food sources and contains fiber, this smoothie contains about 45 grams (or 11 teaspoons!) of sugar. For reference, one Twinkie contains about 18 grams of sugar. My recommendation is that you avoid these fruit-heavy smoothies because they can result in unstable energy, mood, and cravings throughout the day.
So, what does a healthy low-sugar smoothie look like? Think mini-meal. Just as you would design a Whole30 meal based on the Meal Planning Template, you want your smoothie to contain a source of protein, some low-glycemic fruits and/or veggies, and a portion of healthy fat.
Creating your Nutrient-Dense Smoothie
Here are a few options to mix and match to create your own low-sugar, nutrient-dense smoothies. I’ve given you my suggestions for amounts in each category; experiment with combinations that follow these guidelines until you find a blend you love.
Base Liquid (1-1.5 cups):
- Unsweetened Whole30 compatible nutmilk, such as New Barn or MALK
- Filtered water
- Canned coconut milk
- Brewed tea
- High quality bone broth, such as Kettle and Fire
Bone broth in a smoothie? Why, yes! Don’t knock it until you try it. Use chicken broth that doesn’t contain a ton of added spices.
Protein (1 serving):
- Collagen peptides (I like Bubs collagen peptides)
- 100% unsweetened egg white protein powder
- 100% unsweetened pea protein powder
Not into protein powder or collagen peptides? You could also pair your nutrient-dense smoothie with a “side” of easy protein like hard-boiled eggs, compatible sausage or deli meat (heated to steaming, if you’re pregnant), or a meat stick from Chomps or The New Primal.
Fat (1 serving, minimum):
- Avocado
- Seeds (chia, hemp, pumpkin, ground flaxseed, etc.)
- Nut, seed, or coconut butter
- Unsweetened coconut flakes
Fruit (1 cup, max):
- Berries, your best option for a lower sugar smoothie
- Apple, Pear, Peach (fresh or frozen)
- Pineapple, Mango (stick to 1/2 cup as these are higher in sugar)
- Acai Puree (make sure it’s unsweetened)
- Banana (frozen provides a creamy texture)
Veggie (1 cup, minimum):
- Leafy greens
- Mashed pumpkin
- Mashed sweet potato
- Cauliflower rice
- Zucchini
Boosts (Optional, to taste):
- Cinnamon
- Chai seasoning, unsweetened
- Celtic sea salt/Himalayan pink salt
Recipes from our Community
Need more inspiration? Here are a few options from some members of our community:
Good Morning, Get Moving Smoothie (From Lindsay R.)
makes 2-3 servings
1 banana (or 2 c. frozen mixed berries)
2 heaping handfuls of spinach
1 Tbsp chia seeds
1 Tbsp unsweetened shredded coconut
1.5 Tbsp ground flaxseed
2 cups unsweetened almond milk
2 scoops collagen peptides
(Optional: 1 cup ice cubes)
Turmeric Cinnamon Apple Smoothie (From Meghan M.)
serves 1
3/4 cup canned coconut milk
1/2 large apple
2 cups spinach
1 tsp cinnamon
1 tsp turmeric
1-2 scoops collagen peptides
Blueberry Chiller (From Megan D.)
1 cup unsweetened nut milk
1/2 frozen banana
1/2 cup frozen blueberries
1 cup kale
2 Tbsp nut butter
2 Tbsp collagen peptides
Ice cubes (optional)
