Chocolate Frosty Smoothie

One of my favorite treats growing up was a chocolate Wendy’s frosty. I can’t remember the last time I had one (at least 5 years), but still secretly crave them :)

This smoothie is my best healthy approximation of that naughty fast-food frozen dessert. Taking unhealthy foods and making them healthy is what I’m all about.

This is a fairly basic and easy to make smoothie as long as you have cacao powder on hand. I provided plenty of add-on suggestions to take this smoothie to the next level of  healthiness.

Quick smoothie health info – cacao is a superfood especially high in magnesium and vitamin C. It’s known to aid brain health, boost your mood, improve vision, improve blood flow, prevent cancer, and help maintain healthy cholesterol levels. For the full download on this awesome superfood, see my article What is Cacao and why is it perfect for Smoothies?

Next time your kids ask for a fast-food shake, whip up this smoothie and feel good about feeding them something healthy. Might want to add additional sweetener to satisfy some kids. Enjoy!

The Ingredients

1 cup milk (almond, coconut, hemp, raw milk)1 frozen banana1 tablespoon cacao powder1 tablespoon cacao nibs (optional – for crunchiness)1/2 teaspoon vanilla powder or extract2-4 ice cubes (adjust for desired consistency)A little honey, stevia, or maple syrup to sweeten

The Add-ons

1 serving of your preferred chocolate protein powder1 tablespoon dried and powdered down mint leaves, or 5-7 fresh mint leaves (think mint-chocolate)1 tablespoon coconut oil1 tablespoon chia or flax seeds1 tablespoon maca, chia seeds, goji berries, and/or bee pollen

Show Time

Place the ingredients into your high-speed blender and blend for around 30-45 seconds or until nice and smooth.

I’d love to know if you tried this chocolate frosty smoothie and if you think it compares to the original – please do tell in the comments below. Happy Blending!

View the original article here

Chocolate Strawberry Spirulina Smoothie

This smoothie combines two of my favorite nutrient dense superfoods, cacao and spirulina. Add in some fresh fruit and a few other ingredients and you’ve got a delicious and highly nutritious superfood smoothie.

I’ve been adding cacao and spirulina to most of my smoothies lately. They compliment each other nicely and seem to have some sort of superfood synergy going on :)

Cacao is one of my all-time favorite superfoods. Who doesn’t love chocolate? It’s rich in magnesium, iron, chromium, vitamin C, and a good source of zinc, copper, and manganese. It also contains essential omega-6 fatty acids and the amino acid tryptophan, which your body uses to make serotonin, the feel good chemical.

Cacao’s nutrient profile leads to improved cognitive function, better mood, improved vision, healthy bones, and proper immune system functioning. It also supports a healthy cardiovascular system, improved blood flow, reduced blood pressure, and decreased insulin resistance. Again, who doesn’t love chocolate? For the full download, see my article: What is Cacao and why is it perfect for Smoothies?

Spirulina is best known for being around 60-70% protein by dry weight, and contains all the essential amino acids. For vegans this may be the perfect protein source. It’s rich in iron and vitamin K and its dark pigments provide potent antioxidant properties. It’s nutrient profile supports a healthy immune system, improved brain health, improved blood quality, and aids the body’s detoxification and cleansing efforts.

Neither of these superfoods taste too super on their own – enter sweet fruit and sweeteners. If you’re new to cacao or spirulina, you might want to use half of what this recipe calls for. If you’re a seasoned vet, double down! Enjoy!

The Ingredients

1 and 1/2 cups milk (raw milk, almond, hemp, coconut)1 fresh or frozen banana1 cup fresh or frozen strawberries1 tablespoon cacao powder1 tablespoon spirulina1 tablespoon coconut oilA dash of cinnamonA little honey, stevia, or maple syrup to sweeten

The Add-ons

1 cup spinach, kale, or other leafy green1/2 cup frozen blueberries1/3 cup goji berries1 serving protein powder or green superfood powder1 tablespoon maca, bee pollen, aloe, hemp, or any other superfood you have on hand

Show Time

Place all of the ingredients into your high-speed blender and blend for around 30-45 seconds or until nice and smooth.

I’d love to know if you tried this chocolate strawberry spirulina smoothie – please do tell in the comments below. Happy Blending!

View the original article here