Smoothies featuring cacao

Chocolate Chia Seed Smoothie

Chocolate Chia Seed SmoothieOh, how I’ve come to love my little nutrient dense chia seeds. They’re a great addition to many dishes, but perhaps best utilized in gel form to provide that signature smoothie creaminess.

This ancient seed is making a resurgence of sorts due to its myriad health benefits and versatility. Unless you’ve been living under a rock for the past decade, you know how important omega-3 fatty acids are for your health. Chia seeds are very rich in omega-3 fatty acids, and contain more than flax seeds. Chia seeds are also high in antioxidants, a characteristic that allows them to enjoy a long shelf life, unlike most seeds. And that’s just the beginning of what this superfood has to offer.

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Chocolate Raspberry Smoothie

Chocolate Raspberry SmoothieThis is another one of those ridiculously delectable smoothies that I must remind myself is as healthy as it tastes good. If you occasionally have sugar and/or chocolate cravings like I do, treat your sweet tooth with this delicious and satisfying smoothie without feeling an ounce of guilt. This chocolate raspberry smoothie also makes for a healthy dessert and is sure to be a hit!

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Chocolate Sun Warrior Protein Smoothie

Chocolate Sun Warrior Protein SmoothieAre you looking to get some additional protein into your diet, or perhaps in need of a good protein source after working out? This recipe, featuring my number one protein supplement, will allow you to get that additional protein along with other vital nutrients in one delicious smoothie.

There are a large number of protein supplements on the market today, most of which aren’t worth your hard earned dollars. When people ask me, which is quite often, what protein powder I use in my smoothies, the answer is simple: Sun Warrior. Here are a few of the reasons why I love Sun Warrior protein.

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Chocolate Cherry Smoothie

Chocolate Cherry SmoothieIs there anything more decadent than chocolate covered cherries? This creamy chocolate cherry smoothie was designed to tickle your taste buds and rival the best tasting chocolate covered cherries.

This is one of those smoothies that tastes so good you have to remind yourself that it’s also quite healthy. Cherries and cacao (raw chocolate) are both loaded with antioxidants, both contain a good amount of magnesium, and both have been shown to be heart healthy. In conjunction with the other ingredients, this smoothie provides plenty of vitamins, minerals, and dietary fiber to pass as a super healthy snack, dessert, or meal.

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Chocolate Superfood Smoothie Recipe

Cacao Chocolate Tree Pods

If you don’t like chocolate you should stop reading this now. Chocolate is a food of the gods, literally. The 18th century Swedish scientist Carl Linnaeus thought cacao was so important he gave the tree the name Theobroma cacao, or “Cacao, the food of the gods”.

If you’re not familiar with the word cacao (pronounced “ka-kow”), it’s what all chocolate is made from and is actually a bean (also known as cocoa bean). Cacao beans grow in a fruit pod that hang from the trunk of the cacao tree as seen in the picture above.

Most people equate chocolate with candy and sugar, and lump it with foods to be avoided or only eaten on special occasions. While most processed or adulterated chocolate should be considered as such, cacao in its raw form is one of the top superfoods in the world.

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Mint Chocolate Chip Smoothie Recipe

Mint Chocolate Chip Smoothie Recipe

Photo by tamdotcom

If you like mint chocolate chip (Hudsonville) ice cream as much as I do then you’re going to love this smoothie recipe. Mint chocolate chip ice cream is one of those foods I had a hard time giving up after I got serious about eating healthier.

Let’s just say I was pleasantly surprised to learn that you can create a healthy version of an otherwise unhealthy food in many cases, and sometimes the healthy version actually tastes better than its counterpart. I found this to be true of this smoothie recipe once I perfected it.

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