If you want super power packed nutrition – then you need to try my chocolate smoothie.  This makes a delicious healthy snack or light meal that’s perfect when you want to indulge in a little chocolate therapy. The addition of frozen chopped banana makes it smooth and creamy and I sometimes throw in other fruits that compliment and add extra nutrition such as frozen berries. I also vary the milks I use, depending on what I have in the fridge – my favourite is made with almond or cashew nut milk, you can also use a good natural yoghurt that will make it thicker and add good probiotic bacteria that is necessary for gut health.

What it’s good for:

Nut and seed milks are a delicious lactose free alternative to traditional dairy.  Enjoying them daily can help reduce cholesterol, provide your body with essential minerals such as calcium, magnesium and zinc and enhance the body’s immune system. It’s basically the nuts or seeds blended with filtered water and strained.  You can flavor the milk with vanilla bean or a hint of cinnamon and for a little sweetness just throw in a few fresh pitted dates before blending. Cocoa is high in the antioxidants A C and E and magnesium that can help boost your immune system.  Banana is a great source of potassium which helps to regulate fluid balance in the body and necessary for nerve and muscle contraction, it also provides quality carbs to help replenish glycogen – so this smoothie is perfect post workout. Addition of flaxseed or chia seed adds fiber and omega 3 for gut and cardiovascular health.

You’ll Need:

1 large ripe banana, chopped
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
125 ml milk ( your choice of organic dairy, almond, seed, soy, coconut , rice milk or natural yoghurt or fermented kefir milk)
1 heaped teaspoon good quality cocoa powder
1 teaspoon flaxseed or chia seed
1 teaspoon honey or 1 fresh pitted date or a little stevia to sweeten
½ cup ice

Combine all the ingredients into a good high speed blender like a Vitamix.
Blend all the ingredients and enjoy immediately.

Nutrition calculated with organic yoghurt.

Protein: 9.6 g
Total Fat: 2.8 g
Saturated: 1.5 g
Fiber: 4.2 g
Carbs: 25 g
Kilojoules 734
Calories: 175
Sodium: 86 mg

NOTES
Add a spoonful of tahini for added calcium.
Add some Green Power and throw in a handful of baby spinach or a spoon of spirulina.