If there is one thing that I have craved while pregnant, this time and in 2012 with Audrey, it is chocolate milk. I crave it in a way that is almost comical, downing huge glasses of it as if my life depends on it. Oddly enough, this is a drink I don’t actually like that much. But pregnant? Game on. The sudden craving for it in February was actually one of my first clues to the fact that I was pregnant again. Old wives tales will tell you this is because I have been pregnant twice now with girls. In reality, pregnant bodies need calcium, protein and fat. Clearly chocolate milk covers those bases with the added benefit of the sweet chocolatey taste that every pregnancy stereotype confirms.
Of course pregnancy cravings need to be indulged wisely. You never want to replace cravings with good nutrition. Pregnant women need to eat a balanced diet, selected from all the food groups, to obtain an adequate intake of all the nutrients our growing bodies and babies need. That’s why I’ve created this healthier chocolate milk. Nothing like the grocery store version most people are used to, mine is fresher, tastier, lighter, and most importantly, better for you. Plus, it’s only 4 ingredients and can easily be customized to your specific diet/needs.  And there’s no need to limit this tasty drink to pregnancy. If your kiddos love chocolate milk, try this version that you can feel great about giving them.
Side Note: my mother, who does not like chocolate milk, craved it while pregnant with me. Clearly the apple (or cocoa bean) doesn’t fall far from the tree.
Healthy Homemade Chocolate Milk
Serves: 1
Ingredients
1 cup milk of choice (I prefer unsweetened almond milk, but you can easily substitute cow's, rice, hemp, soy or lite coconut milk)
2 teaspoons unsweetened cocoa powder (not cocoa mix)
2 teaspoons raw honey (or sweetener of choice - maple syrup works well)
â…› teaspoon pure vanilla extract
Instructions
You can mix all ingredients together in a blender, but I prefer to shake vigorously for 30 seconds over ice in a large bottle or mason jar with a tight fitting lid.
3.2.2708 *Raw honey is a natural sweetener with beneficial enzymes that do not get lost during processing and filtering like refined, pasteurized honey. It also has a much lower glycemic index, meaning it doesn’t cause a significant rise or fall of blood sugar levels.
