The Choco-Banana Super Smoothie

We are big drinkers in our house – smoothie drinkers that is.

We put our Vitamix to work every morning, starting almost every day with a smoothie.  I find smoothies to be a great way to sneak in superfoods like chia seeds and greens powders, and also veggies too. My daughter was getting really tired of the fruit smoothies, and so for a while she was skipping her morning smoothie – so she wasn’t getting her superfoods.  So I decided to make her a Chocolate Superfood smoothie one morning, and now it is her favorite (she actually prefers hers without the banana, my son likes extra banana, so it is adjustable)!  If you make it without the banana, just add an extra ice cube or two to thicken it up, or you could freeze your non-dairy milk into ice cube trays, and that would help to thicken it up too.

Have you heard about the study that found chocolate milk to be a great post-workout drink?  This drink offers all the benefits of chocolate milk, plus so much more (and by being non-dairy, it is not mucus-producing like dairy can be.  And many people can not digest the lactose in milk).

This smoothie is like having a yummy chocolate milkshake for breakfast (great for a pre or post workout snack too).

Choco-Banana Super Smoothie

Makes two smoothies (approx. 5 oz. each)

Ingredients:

• 1/3 cup of So Delicious Coconut Kefir (or non-dairy milk – such as Almond, rice or Coconut milk, plain unsweetened original)
• 1/2 cup of coconut water
• 2 Tablespoons of raw cacao powder (I like Sunfood)
• 10-12 drops of liquid stevia (or to taste)
• 1 teaspoon of agave nectar (I like Natures Agave)
• 2 Tablespoons of chia seeds (put in coconut water or milk alternative to soak for 5 mins first)
• 1 scoop of greens powder (such as Green Vibrance) or you can start with a half scoop first
• a small pinch of pink Himalayan salt (or air dried sea salt)
• Optional – vanilla protein powder (I like Sun Warrior)
• 1/2 small frozen banana
• 2/3 cup of ice

Put everything into blender except ice and frozen banana.  Blend to combine well.  Then add frozen banana and ice, blend well.  Serve immediately.

This smoothie has so many benefits:

• Good source of magnesium, potassium, calcium, Vitamin D3, magnesium, and Vitamin K – great for bone health and athletes.
• Alkalizing
• High fiber content, to boost digestion
• Contains probiotics – which boost immunity and digestion
• Excellent source of omega 3s.
• Good source of protein and carbohydrates, and a little sodium, all great for post-workout.
• Rich in antioxidants
• Contains adaptogens – which help the body to regulate the hormones and endocrine system.
• And best of all, it tastes great!

So give it a try at home and let me know what you (and the kids) think!