Nourishing Chocolate Smoothie Recipe

While striving to reduce consumption of refined sugar in your daily eating habits, it’s a good idea to build recipes that will satisfy the occasional sweets craving, while still providing the benefits of whole, nutritious foods. The recipe below is a favorite of mine, and there are a few ways you can modify it, depending on what ingredients you have on-hand. The fabulous thing about smoothies is you can make them however you want.

This recipe uses a ripe, frozen banana to add natural sweetness to the recipe, and you can also add a shot of raw honey or another unrefined sweetener if you need to. If you have a ripe avocado available, this will take it to the next level. Avocados make for some of the creamiest, most satisfying smoothies you will ever make. They contain monounsaturated fats (some of the “good fats”) which help you to feel full and can help stave off hunger for hours.

Next, add some unsweetened cocoa powder (preferably not Dutch cocoa, due to it being more processed). Compounds of the cocoa bean (also found in cocoa powder) may help reduce inflammation, and promote health when consumed in moderation as part of a healthy diet. Dairy milk, almond, coconut, soy, or rice milks may be used in this smoothie. The amount you choose to add is up to you. Less milk makes for a thicker smoothie.

If you are serious about limiting your sugar consumption, work toward reducing the amount of extra sweetener you add to the recipe. To take it up one more notch, throw a handful of spinach into the mix. I guarantee you’ll hardly notice it.

Nourishing Chocolate Smoothie

One frozen banana, peeled

A quarter to a half of avocado

One tbsp cocoa powder (use more cocoa if you want a very “dark-chocolatey” flavor)

Up to one tbsp raw honey or other natural sweetener (optional)

One handful of spinach (optional)

A quarter to a half cup of milk (dairy, soy, almond, rice, or coconut)

 

Add the ingredients to a powerful blend in the order listed and blend until smooth. This makes for a decent sized smoothie, so feel free to share with a friend or significant other. Enjoy!