Happy New Year, Hipcooks! Do you have resolutions for good health this year? Or a sober January? You can be well-behaved and sneak a treat with our Healthy chocolate smoothie.
The health benefits of raw cacao are fantastic: it gives energy, improves memory, reduces heart disease, sheds fat, increases immunity, and boosts your bliss!
This healthy chocolate smoothie will keep you feeling full and satisfied for quite a while. It’s thick, protein-rich and creamy from cashews. It’s sweetened with blackberry and vanilla. A touch of mint keeps you zingy and fresh. Because we love to garnish a smoothie, we put some healthy cacao nibs on top to crunch on.
Of course, there are tons of variations to keep things interesting . . . and that’s what helps us keep our resolutions, isn’t it? The same ol’ thing every day would be boring. Honor yourself and your commitment by indulging with a quick, healthy “treat,” but keeping it new and exciting each time. With a base of the nuts and cacao, you can “mix it up” by:
- Swapping out a banana for sweetness. Add spices: cinnamon, vanilla, a dash of cayenne and you’ve got a Mexican hot chocolate healthy smoothie. We like to let the Vitamix run on high for several minutes when we make this variation: the friction of the blade will heat up the smoothie until warm. Warm-smoothie indulgence, hooray!
- Toss in an orange: peel, pith and all, for a healthy orange chocolate smoothie (because chocolate and orange are a match made in heaven.
- Add a big handful of greens. Spinach, kale…any dark leavy green will do. If it’s a challenge for you to get your greens in each day, then smuggling them in a smoothie with a bunch of cacao and a sweet banana will be easy.
- Are you dragging today? Add a shot of espresso for a pick-me-up. You’ll see it melds beautifully with the other flavors in the smoothie.
Hungry for more Health?
Check out our Healthy Winter Soups Class at Hipcooks. Click on Class Schedules!
1 comment
I forgot how much I love this smoothie! Can’t wait to make it again!