This post was sponsored by Hood as part of an Influencer Activation for Influence Central and all opinions expressed in my post are my own.
Three cheers for being in the home stretch of my second pregnancy! We can officially say that baby #2 will be here in less than a month, and I have been counting down the days to when I can finally hold this little wiggle worm in my arms. This pregnancy has been a bit tougher than my first pregnancy, so in addition to counting down the days to when I can see her sweet face, I’m also counting down quite a few other things that have been off limits or restricted for me throughout the course of this pregnancy.
During my second trimester, my doctor pointed out to me that my weight gain was progressing a little more rapidly that she wanted it to, and suggested that I make a few switches in my diet that would be healthier for myself and for the baby. I knew I needed to look for items that offered fewer sugars and carbs to help get me going in the right direction.
After doing a little grocery shopping at my local Walmart, I discovered Hood Calorie Countdown, which is a dairy beverage that blends ultra-filtered milk with water, cream and other ingredients for a delicious and creamy taste while delivering fewer calories, less sugar and fewer carbs that regular milk. I was completely sold at the notion, because chocolate milk has been my BIGGEST pregnancy craving throughout my entire pregnancy!
I have been enjoying Hood Calorie Countdown Dairy Beverage for a few months now as an alternative to traditional dairy milk, and it’s a switch I can honestly say will stick around long after baby arrives. I love that I am able to continue to enjoy my favorite foods and beverages without the added sugars and carbs. Just 1 cup of Hood Calorie Countdown 2% Reduced Fat contains the following:
- 70 calories (42% less than traditional whole milk)
- 3 grams carbs (75% fewer carbs than traditional whole milk)
- 2 grams sugar (75% less sugar than traditional whole milk)
Since swapping out traditional milk with Hood Calorie Countdown Dairy Beverage, I haven’t missed the added sugars and carbs one single bit! Now that I know I’m not consuming a bunch of unnecessary sugars, I can focus more on counting down the days to other things that I can’t wait to enjoy after baby arrives…like more trips to somewhere where there’s lots of sun, sand, and fruity drinks galore!
We’ve made a few trips down to the gulf this summer to enjoy some family time before the baby arrives, but now that I feel like I can barely fit through the frame of my front door thanks to my growing bump, we’re starting to slow down a bit and really prepare for her arrival. That means that all of my tropical drink cravings will temporarily be made from home, but with fewer calories and sugars! Fruit has been another pretty big craving for me, so this Pineapple Mango Smoothie has been just the thing to take me somewhere tropical, even if it’s just in my mind!
Here’s a free printable version of the recipe for you to enjoy. It’s super quick and easy to make, and it’s deee-lish!
Pineapple Mango Smoothie Recipe!
Ingredients
- 3/4 cup Hood Calorie Countdown 2% Reduced Fat Dairy Beverage
- 1/4 cup low fat plain Greek yogurt
- 1 mango peeled and diced
- 1 cup fresh pineapple chunks
- 1 tsp stevia for added sweetness - optional
- Crushed graham crackers and whipped topping for garnish - optional
Instructions
- Place all ingredients into a blender or food processor and blend until smooth. If you prefer a thinner smoothie, add a little more Hood Calorie Countdown 2% Reduced Fat Dairy Beverage. Garnish with graham cracker crumbs and whipped topping and enjoy!
Tried this recipe?
Tag me on Instagram: @SouthernMadeSimple or use the hashtag #SouthernMadeSimple and share your love of southern cuisine!
One other thing I’m counting down the days to is the day that I stop waking up at 3 in the morning craving a bowl of cereal. It happened all throughout the 3rd trimester with my first child, and it’s happening again with this baby! I guess it’s a time of day when my body decides it just needs a little something extra, but now I don’t worry about going straight back to sleep after consuming a bunch of sugars thanks to choosing Hood Calorie Countdown and more sensible cereal options. Hooray!
Coupon Alert!
If you’re on the hunt for making a simple switch to make your lifestyle a healthier one, swapping out milk with Hood Calorie Countdown dairy beverage is a great place to start! You can find Calorie Countdown in Whole, Reduced Fat Chocolate Milk, Reduced Fat and Fat Free varieties at your local Walmart today! Make sure you snag the coupon below to save big!
Save $0.75 off any (1) Hood Calorie Countdown Dairy Beverage
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