There’s something about mint and chocolate Shakethat is so perfectly decadent yet refreshing. Put it in milkshake form, and you have a truly winning combo. However, milkshakes are not the healthiest, nor are they most efficient source of fuel. I love to indulge in delicious things that also nourish my body. It’s not a matter of feeling “guilty” or not. You should never let food make you feel negative emotions like guilt or remorse. Rather, I just feel happier when I know that the not only is the dessert feeding my soul, but it’s also benefiting my body in a positive way. That’s not to say that I don’t ever indulge in completely unhealthy treats (trust me I do!), I just usually prefer to knock out two birds with one stone and make my indulgences secretly healthy! That’s why I made this delicious smoothie recipe. This blend is so amazing that it can pass as dessert, but it’s also healthy enough to eat for breakfast. I like to sneak in greens whenever possible, and this smoothie is no exception. This recipe uses a lot of a cacao, and cacao is simply cocoa before it has been roasted. It is the raw form, with no added sugar or additives. Eating cacao in its raw state means that you’re getting more nutrients and antioxidants. It’s pretty bitter on it’s own, but the dates help to balance out the sweetness naturally. Cacao nibs are just the solid version of the powder, and they make the perfect substitute for chocolate chips. I also use two products from my favorite plant-based protein powder, Philosophie. These ingredients are totally optional, but they’re a great way to increase the protein content and add nutritional density to this recipe. To make it even more of a dessert, I recommend replacing the almond milk with pure canned coconut milk.

Healthy Mint Chocolate Chip Milkshake (Gluten Free, Vegan, Refined Sugar Free)

Ingredients:

  • 1 frozen banana
  • 1/4 small avocado
  • 1 tbsp Philosophie Green Dream (or alternate green powder)
  • 1 heaped tbsp Philosophie Cacao Magic (or just plain cacao powder)
  • 4 mint leaves
  • 1 tbsp almond butter
  • 1 cup almond milk
  • 6 ice cubes
  • 2 pitted medjool dates
  • 1 cup of spinach
  • 2 tbsp cacao nibs (stirred in at the end)
  • Cacao nibs and fresh mint leaves to garnish

Method:

Blend all of the ingredients together in a high-speed blender. When all of the ingredients are incorporated, stir in the cacao nibs and garnish with your desired toppings.

Philosophie products available for purchase here: http://www.thephilosophie.com/collections/all