I’ve never been a fan of meal replacements – pills, shakes, bars. No thanks. I’m a proponent of real food forever and always. Then I had a kid. And then I realized what mom’s all over the world have been talking about since the dawn of existence; you have NO time to do fucking anything!

That includes cooking. That includes eating. IDK how the day goes by in a blink of an eye but it does.

I’m breastfeeding so this is V problematic because if you aren’t well nourished, your supply can drop.

ENTER: MEAL REPLACEMENT SHAKE.

Not just any shake. A thoughtful, and mindfully constructed recipe to deliver protein, fats, and carbs to keep me energized (carbs), satiated (fat), and my supply healthy (protein).

Not breastfeeding? Not a parent? Not a problem.

This shake is an excellent meal in a pinch for all walks of life.

Chocolate Meal Replacement Shake

[ingredients title=”Ingredients”]

• One scoop chocolate protein powder
• 1/2 cup raw old fashioned oats
• One scoop Vital Proteins Collagen Peptides
• 1 tbsp flaxseed oil
• 1/2 banana
• 1 cup water (or nut milk of choice)

[/ingredients]

[directions title=”Directions”]

1. Combine in a blender. Add more liquid for desired consistency.

[/directions]

As my girl, Ina (Garten), says, “HOW EASY IS THAT?!”

Let’s break this down real quick.

For those wondering, this is the My Fitness Pal app. Your nutritional content may vary depending on what protein powder you use, okay?

Fat: Flaxseed oil

Carbs: Banana (fast digesting)

Protein: Vital Proteins Collagen Peptides and protein powder

This shake is a calorically dense, quick meal to consume in a pinch. I would NOT advocate that this be your standard breakfast, lunch or dinner. As I mentioned, I would always prefer to get protein from a food source as opposed to a powder, but this recipe has been saving me on days where my kid is cluster feeding, going through a leap, or I’m on the go with errands and pediatrician appointments.

Two quick PSA’s for clarity before I leave you:

• When you see anything branded as a meal replacement on the grocery store shelves be sure to check the label, they’re usually (read: always) full of a ton of crap that is anything but healthy. I love this option because I know EXACTLY what’s in it and can vouch for all ingredients.
• Because this is 430-ish calories, I want to be super mindful of my caloric consumption the rest of the day. With one meal I’m subtracting 430-ish calories from my balance, and if I fail to do that, I’ll be way over my daily caloric balance. I think that’s why people aren’t successful with high-fat diets – portion control is EVERYTHING.

One piece of fine print: I am fortunate enough to be part of the Vital Proteins family and was extended Collagen Peptides by the brand team. That has ZERO to do with this post since all opinions are my own and I fahking love the product. Kapish?