It is hard to find someone who actively dislikes smoothies. They are filling, delicious and can be thrown together in under a few minutes. This makes them a great choice for busy mums, early risers and lazy athletic types, since it is easy to whiz one up and take it with you for a nutritious snack or breakfast on the go.
The beauty of this particular recipe is that as well as being a very energising breakfast bursting with plant protein, it also makes a healthy pudding alternative. Next time you have friends over and forget to make dessert you can whip this up (just use less liquid than recommended below) and I guarantee no one will ever guess just how nourishing your “chocolate mousse” is!
But why is it suddenly ok to be eating chocolate for breakfast?
Raw cacao (not to be confused with processed cocoa powder) contains more antioxidants than blueberries, green tea or red wine which are great for a healthy cardiovascular system and to protect against free radicals – the damage free radicals cause on a cellular level can then lead to much larger and more severe problems.
Raw cacao contains more antioxidants than blueberries, green tea or red wine
Cacao also raises the amounts of some neurotransmitters in the brain so chocolate really is a mood booster, helping you feel more positive, happy and alert. You can now get that post-run buzz before you have even hit the tracks! Cacao beans are an amazing source of lots of essential minerals, magnesium in particular.
Many modern diets lack sufficient levels of magnesium and it is really key for many bodily functions including energy and protein production, regulation of blood sugar levels, maintaining a winning immune system and keeping bones strong.
Raw cacao is obviously far superior to highly processed chocolate – team this with juicy medjool dates which taste like caramel (and are packed with fibre), avocado for a light and creamy texture (and to give you healthy, glowing skin) and almond butter for heart health and a generous dose of calcium and vitamin E – and you have one of the most virtuous chocolatey treats ever!
Ingredients
Serves 1
1 banana
0.5 avocado
2 tsp raw cacao
3-4 medjool dates (depending how sweet you like it)
2 tsp almond butter
1 tbsp coconut yoghurt
2 tsp maca powder (optional but gives a yummy malty taste)
Water (to reach desired consistency)
Big handful of spinach (optional)
Method:
Blend all ingredients until completely smooth then pour into a bowl and serve.
I love mine topped with Maple, Apricot, Quinoa and Granola.
Enjoy and hope you’ve got some better weather back home than we have in Paris at the moment!
About Serena
Serena is our nutrition and recipe expert, she also writes on her own blog at www.herbdiaries.com