It’s summertime and the living is crazy! There’s nothing easy or restful about being a first time mom. Still, there’s nothing more awesome right now than dropping everything to cuddle my smiling 3 month old. While making memories with Bubba trumps all, I still need to keep up with basic chores, race training and blogging. My biggest challenge is making time to take care of myself.

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When it comes to sleep, I take over the guest room on the weekends and my rockstar husband takes all-night baby duty. This is what’s keeping me out of the emergency room and safe in the land of the sane.

When it comes to exercise, I settle for stolen minutes of living room lunges, the occasional walk and…if I’m feeling well, a run with the stroller. I do have a race next month I plan on run/walking, so squeezing this in is a priority. It’s not much but something is always better than nothing. Can I get an amen?

When it comes to “me time”, … hahahaha. If I can’t sleep while the baby is asleep, I’ve been reading Eugene Peterson’s Run with the Horses and Dr. Jason Karp’s The Inner Runner. Loving both so far.

When it comes to nutrition, I’ve struggled to find a system that works for me. I’m exclusively breastfeeding and my son is a champion eater. I mean, look at those baby rolls!

Breastfeeding alone can burn 500 calories each day, making me ravenously hungry and thirsty even if I don’t exercise. Not only that, but my postpartum journey has included serious issues with constipation and skin/ear infections requiring antibiotics to treat.

If I eat well, I have a better shot at staying well. I also have the boost I need to do more than just the bare minimum each day, making the occasional dog walk, errand day or training run possible. So how do I fuel my new awesome mom life? I’ve got a new favorite beverage that does quadruple duty….

Morning Mocha with Protein & Probiotics!

First of all, this is a cold shake, perfect for the hot summer days.

Second, it’s made with cold brew coffee which jolts me back to life after a sleepless night with a gassy infant.

Third, it’s got protein for satiety, fiber for regularity, and probiotics to counteract the antibiotics. In other words, it’s meeting my mommy nutritional needs.

Last, and most important, it’s fast and portable, so I don’t miss a beat in my new baby routine.

What makes this mocha possible is the nutritional boosters made by Bob’s Red Mill. Made with pea protein powder, this ready-to-shake mix is gluten free and vegan.

I also appreciate the addition of chia seeds for some omega-3 action and the high iron content as I’ve always had a low iron level.

Another feel-good bonus about this is the brand itself. Bob’s Red Mill is an Oregon company, employee-owned, and I’ve been using their coconut and almond flour products for years. They’re known for milling flours the natural, old-fashioned way and you’ve probably seen their huge selection of non-traditional cereals, flours and meals in your grocery store.

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RECIPE TIME

Making a Morning Mocha Shake is not difficult, but you need cold brew coffee. Why? Because it’s stronger, sweeter, and less acidic than your hot water coffee. Cold brew is what makes the difference between your drink tasting like a mocha as opposed to a chocolate shake with a barely noticeable hint of coffee.

You can buy cold brew pre-made or simply steep a cute mason jar full ahead of time. The great thing about the DIY version is it lasts forever (okay, like two weeks) without going stale and makes you feel like a coffee genius, but it’s silly easy.

SIMPLE HOMEMADE COLD BREW

You will need:

1. Coarse ground, dark roast coffee (for example, espresso beans ground for a french press).
2. Good water. Don’t use tap if it has a funny taste.
3. A pitcher or mason jar.
4. A filter of some kind. Perhaps a fine mesh strainer, cheesecloth, or an actual coffee filter will do.

Silly easy steps:

1. Put one part coffee grounds to four parts cold water in your pitcher/jar.
2. Stir to make sure all the coffee “blooms” (gets wet).
3. Forget about it for 12 to 18 hours (let it steep).
4. Strain the grounds out and chill the cold brew for use in your shakes/smoothies/etc.

MORNING MOCHA SHAKE RECIPE

Now that you’ve got cold brew on hand to improve your quality of wakefulness, here is how I make my morning mocha shake.

• 1/3 Cup Bob’s Red Mill Chocolate Protein Powder Nutritional Booster
• 1 Cup cold brew, chilled
• 1/4 Cup milk (cow, coconut, soy, hemp…you choose)

Combine above ingredients in a shaker and shake until mixed.

OR combine above in a blender with ice to make a frap-style beverage.

I can’t say enough about the benefits of Bob’s Red Mill Nutritional Boosters. I HAVE used the other flavors to mix up fancy smoothies, and they taste awesome, but I rarely have the luxury of time or the fresh ingredients for that. A simple morning mocha shake gets me going and keeps me fueled for life.

The memories we’re making as a family this summer are priceless. Little things like a caffeinated protein shake really make the difference in helping me stay on top of life and be present for those precious moments.

Try it for yourself!

Get a discount on Bob’s Red Mill Nutritional Boosters with this coupon!

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