Chocolate Banana Smoothie

You will love everything about this Chocolate Banana Smoothie from the creamy chocolate flavor, subtle banana flavor, and hint of almond butter. It is a great way to start the day and will keep you full all morning. You may also love these oatmeal smoothie or tropical kale pineapple smoothie to get your day started right.

This healthy chocolate banana smoothie is the answer to the hundred degree mornings that we can seem to escape lately. It has been so hot and quite honestly, nothing seems appealing when you wake up and start sweating immediately. The only thing I can even think about having is something cool and refreshing like a smoothie and this chocolate version hits the spot. It almost tastes like a healthy chocolate milkshake but is actually good for you.

The key players in this chocolate smoothie are a super ripe banana, vanilla almond milk, oats, chia seeds, flaxseed meal, almond butter, unsweetened cocoa powder, and ice. The banana adds sweetness without needing any added sugar. The riper the banana, the sweeter the smoothie. The oats add fiber and whole grains to help keep you full. The chia and flax add fiber and protein and the almond butter adds healthy fats and some extra protein as well. Finally, the unsweetened cocoa powder adds chocolate flavor without added sugar. It's simple to make and it's a smoothie that will actually keep you full all day. 

On a side note, My husband grew up eating chocolate banana licuados in the morning that were basically whole milk, bananas, chocolate syrup, and sometimes even a raw egg. While I will probably never add a raw egg, this recipe was inspired by those morning licuados. I wanted to make a healthier version that we could have in the morning and that I felt good about giving our daughters. While he still swears by those super sweet, creamy licuados; he was shocked at how much he enjoyed this cleaned up version.

Chocolate Banana Smoothie Extras

• Greens: Adding greens to a smoothie is a great way to kick up the nutrition and sneak in veggies for kids. Often I will throw a handful or two of spinach into this smoothie. Kale works as well but has a stronger and more bitter flavor.
• Cauliflower: If your kids turn their noses to spinach in their smoothies, consider trying frozen cauliflower. It has such a mild flavor, it blends right and no one will even know it's there.
• Avocado: For an extra creamy smoothie, add some avocado to the smoothie as well. Chocolate and avocado work really well together and it adds extra healthy fat, vitamins, and minerals.
• Yogurt: Yogurt is another great option for adding protein to this chocolate smoothie. It also adds calcium and probiotics. I like to use plain Greek yogurt but any style will work. You can also switch up the taste by adding flavored yogurt like coconut or strawberry. This also adds some sweetness to the smoothie if it isn't sweet enough for you.
• Berries: Another option is adding berries. Frozen strawberries, raspberries, and blueberries are all delicious in this smoothie and add antioxidants. 
• Coconut:  I love the coconut anything, especially with chocolate. To add coconut flavor, you can use coconut milk instead of almond milk. You can also add unsweetened shredded coconut. For a low calorie option, you can use coconut extract or coconut Stevia.
• Hemp seeds: Hemp seeds are super nutritious and contain Omega 3 and Omega 6 fatty acids as well as protein and many other vitamins and minerals. They are a great addition to this smoothie to kick up the nutritional value.
• Tofu: Another protein option is to add some soft silken tofu to the smoothie. Make sure to drain all the liquid first and give it a good rinse. Since tofu has virtually no flavor, adding it to a smoothie adds protein and makes the smoothie super creamy.
• Protein Powder: Anytime I post a smoothie recipe, I always get a million questions about protein powder. Personally, I usually try to add natural protein whenever possible so I would opt for yogurt or tofu. However, protein powder is a great option as well.
• Eggs: Believe it or not, some people do like to add raw eggs to their smoothies, and not just bodybuilders. If you buy pasteurized eggs, this is an option. It will make the smoothie super rich.
• Sweetener: If the banana you are using isn't super ripe, this smoothie may not be sweet enough. You can use honey or maple syrup to sweeten it up. You could also use sweetened vanilla almond milk or a flavored yogurt as well to add sweetness.
• Coffee: If you want to get your breakfast and coffee all in one shot, add brewed coffee or instant espresso powder to this chocolate banana smoothie to make a mocha smoothie. It's delicious.

How to Meal Prep Chocolate Banana Smoothies

If you want to speed up your mornings, it's actually pretty easy to meal prep these smoothies you just have to dump everything in the blender and add milk. 

• Fridge prep: If you will be making these smoothies within 4-5 days, you can prep this just like overnight oats. Add everything to a large mason jar except the ice. Then just dump it into the blender and add ice when you are ready to eat it. Depending on how much milk the oats absorb, you may need to add some extra milk.
• Pantry prep: Add the oats, flax seeds, chia seeds, cocoa powder, cinnamon to a small container or bag to keep in the pantry. Then in the morning, add it to the blender with the banana, almond butter, and milk. That way you won't be measuring out tons of different ingredients.