How to Make a Raw Chocolate Smoothie

Breakfast is one of the most important meals of the day. After all, you are ‘breaking the fast’ after sleeping. There are so many choices available these days that it can be quite confusing, especially if you want to nourish your body as well as enjoy a delicious meal.

Check out my recipe on how to make a raw chocolate smoothie below. I’ve found that this healthy chocolate smoothie makes you feel full but not that uncomfortable ‘over-full’ feeling. And it stops those mid morning cravings so you can crack on with your day – without getting hungry.

Recipe – How To Make a Raw Chocolate Smoothie

**Full Disclosure: This post has been written from my own personal experiences, I have not been paid to write this post**

Ingredients

• 1/2 – 1 medium ripe avocado
• 1 cup Almond milk (substitute: any milk alternative will suffice)
• 1/2 – 1 teaspoon Bee Pollen (substitute: Raw honey, Stevia or sugar alternative, Maple Syrup) (vary amount to personal taste)
• 2-3 tablespoons Raw Cacao (vary amount to personal taste)

Method

• Add all ingredients to blender and blend until smooth
• Pour into a mason jar for breakfast on the go or serve in a bowl with some freshly cut apple or orange segments on the side. Crunchy home made muesli sprinkled on top is also delicious

Notes

1. As these are fresh ingredients its a good idea to consume within 2 hours of making it
2. Add more milk to give it a more smoothie-like consistency. Add less milk and more avocado to make the consistency thicker.
3. Whole greek yoghurt can be used in place of the milk alternative however this does make the consistency a lot thicker and is more like chocolate mousse than a smoothie – great to have as dessert after dinner!
4. The raw cacao is quite bitter on its own so some kind of natural sweetener is good however not necessary. I personally prefer raw honey or bee pollen because it gives my body that extra nutritional goodness but it really is a personal preference. I suggest playing with different quantities until you find the one that suits you best.

Nutritional Information

Avocado’s contain a wide variety of nutrients including Vitamins B, C, E and K, not to mention the great healthy fats which your body will love you for consuming.  These green gems are amazing for your heart and can also improve your eye sight. The folate found in these precious fruits has the potential to help with healthy pregnancies as well as helping to fight some cancers. It has also been known to help with weight management and digestion.

I personally prefer almond milk over cows milk or any other nut milk but this is down to personal choice. Almond Milk  is obviously made up mostly of  almonds so all that goodness from the almonds is going straight into your body and unsweetened almond milk wont raise your blood sugar levels – a really big bonus in my mind! There is evidence to suggest that almond milk can also contribute to a healthy heart, skin and bones.

There are multiple natural sweeteners you can use to sweeten this smoothie, for the recipe above I used bee pollen so will chat about that but any of the sweeteners I mentioned above will work just as well. Bee pollen can help strengthen your immune system, it also contains anti-inflammatory properties and can also act as antioxidant.

It can also help with keeping your liver healthy and aiding healing in the body. (Please note there are some side effects that are present with bee pollen so if you have a reaction to honey then its highly likely you could have the same reaction to bee pollen).

Here’s some of the reasons why raw cacao has been named a ‘superfood’: it balances your hormones, protects your heart, gives you natural energy, contributes to shiny hair and strong nails.

It contains healthy fats, can fight tooth decay, has more antioxidants than blueberries, contains a large amount of iron as well as a host of other nutrients. Its definitely worth having a packet of this powerful powder stored in your kitchen pantry.