Sunday, June 3, 2012

Chocolate Smoothies




Learn how to make fresh smoothie recipes, including healthy vegetable, fruit, and a bit of the sweet tooth smoothies!

Smoothies make a healthy, nutritious snack or meal for any occasion; there is little you cannot do with a smoothie recipe. With ingredients from strawberries and bananas to kale and celery, smoothies could be considered the ultimate food, containing all of the body’s daily essential nutrients and fuel, preserving the whole foods concept, and helping you stay fit, healthy and strong. 

Once you have the right blender—and a few key bits of knowledge about food preparation—you are ready to start making your own smoothie recipes. But first, try some of the ingredients you see in this free smoothie video series. Our expert will give you some of those key tips to get started; then learn how to make a basic fresh fruit smoothie. Other recipes include a vegetable smoothie, a detox smoothie, an energy smoothie, an immune booster, smoothies for dessert and more.

Today we start with Chocolate Smoothies:

Let's start with a video for a Chocolate Chili Veggie Smoothie Recipe by clicking here!  She's great to watch and learn.


Chocolate is not the cause of weight gain and sugar highs and lows. The brutes giving chocolate a bad name is the highly refined sugar, milk, and chemicals mixed with the chocolate.
Why is it that you see chocolate toted for its high antioxidant properties, and yet many health experts say to stay away from it? How can we get the benefits of chocolate and stay away from harmful additives?

Chocolate Smoothie Ingredients

chocolate smoothie recipe
I propose for us to look at chocolate from a different prospective. What can give a chocolate smoothie recipe a creamy base?  Nuts, coconut, avocados, oatmeal, beans, and the list goes on!

I have used all of these in my chocolate smoothie recipes. Most of them taste just as good as a chocolate shake filled with ice cream and sugar. But I do have to admit that some of my experiments didn't taste so great. But how do we learn to be better if there are no failures?

What about replacing the refined sugars? My favorite way to sweeten chocolate smoothie recipes is to use dates soaked in water. They are extremely sweet and the flavor blends beautifully with chocolate. It also naturally thickens the smoothie. Plus, it contains healthy nutrients and fiber. Make sure that you remove the pit from the center, as they are as hard as rocks.

Stevia is also another great way to sweeten a smoothie. It contains no calories. Stevia is an all-natural sweetener made from leaves of the Stevia plant. Please, make sure not to put in too much. If you use too much, your smoothie will taste bitter. One to two packets easily sweetens a smoothie.
Another great way to sweeten up a chocolate smoothie recipe is to use frozen bananas. This also creates a creamy base that many people love!


Chocolate that you could indulge in without adding the extra pounds on your hips. Making chocolate with these healthy smoothie ingredients will actually be beneficial for you body!

First, you avoid the unnecessary addictive problems that come with regular chocolate.

Second, you feed your body nutrient dense chocolate that will leave you feeling satisfied and energized.

My #1 tip for making a tasty chocolate smoothie is to blend everything together before adding the frozen fruit and/or ice. That way you will be savoring the smooth texture instead of chewing smoothie ingredient chunks.

Now you know how to savor chocolate without the gut-wrenching guilt. Purchasing raw cocao is a great first step to creating healthy desserts for you, your family, and your friends.

To make your chocolate smoothie recipe even healthier toss in a handful of fresh spinach. Don’t worry... The flavor of the spinach gets covered up by the smoothie.

Here's why green smoothies are good for you:
 http://gotgreensrevolution.com/green-smoothie.html

Pick a chocolate smoothie recipe below and have fun experimenting!


COCONUT BASE

Chocolate Silk
1/4 cup coconut milk
3/4 cup pure water
5 dates, pitted and soaked in the water
1/4 avocado
1 tablespoon of raw cacao
10 ice cubes
Pour the milk and water into the blender with the dates, avocado, and cacao on top. Blend. Add ice and blend until completely smooth. Serves 1-2

NUT BASE

Chocolate Divine
1/3 cup cashew, raw
7 dates
1 tablespoon of raw cacao
1 cup water
10 ice cubes
Blend all ingredients except the ice cubes until smooth. Add the ice cubes and blend again until smooth. Very yummy! Serves 1

Pecan Delight
1/3 cup raw pecans
4-8 dates, soaked in the water (depending on your desire of sweetness)
1 packet of stevia
1 tsp vanilla
1 tablespoon raw cacao
1 cup water
12 ice cubes
First, blend the pecans, dates, stevia, vanilla, cacao, and water. Then, add the ice and blend on high until smooth. Serves 1-2

BEAN BASE

Red Bean Smoothie
1/4 cup coconut milk powder
1 cup pure water
8 dates, pitted and soaked in the water
1/2 cup small red beans, cooked and rinsed
1 1/2 tablespoon of  raw cacao
1 tablespoon chia seeds

1 packet of stevia
8-10 ice cubes
Pour the milk powder and water into the blender with the dates, beans, chia seeds, stevia, and cacao on top. Blend. Add ice and blend until completely smooth.

OATMEAL BASE

Chocolate Oatmeal Smoothie
3 tablespoons of uncooked oatmeal
5 dates, pitted and soaked in the water
1/4 cup almonds
1 tablespoon of coconut powder
1 tablespoon of  raw cacao
1 packet stevia
1 1/4 cup water
10 ice cubes
Pour the water into the blender with the everything but the ice on top. Blend. Add ice and blend until completely smooth. Serves 1-2

SUGAR FREE CHOCOLATE SMOOTHIES

Chocolate Cashew Dream
1/4 cup cashews, raw
1/4 avocado, large
1 tablespoon of raw cacao
1/4 cup coconut milk powder
2 tsp stevia
1 cup water
11 ice cubes
Blend all ingredients except the ice until smooth. Then add the ice and blend again until smooth. Enjoy!

Chocolate Green Smoothie

Yummy Chocolate Cabbage Smoothie
1-2 cups cabbage
1/2 cup almonds, raw
7 dates, pitted
1/2 tsp stevia
1 teaspoon vanilla
1 1/2 tablespoon raw cacao
1 cup water
7 ice cubes
1 banana, frozen
Blend the first 7 ingredients until smooth. Add the frozen ingredients and blend again. Serves 1-2

Carob Smoothie

Almond Carob Smoothie
1/2 almonds, raw
6-8 dates, pitted
1 1/2 tablespoon carob, powder
1/4 tsp stevia
1 cup pure water
12 ice cubes
Pour the water into the blender with the almonds, dates, carob, stevia on top. Blend. Add ice and blend until completely smooth. Serves 1-2

If you need some places to purchase the raw cacao, carob, stevia, etc. online here are some places:

http://mountainroseherbs.com/
http://www.iherb.com
http://www.vitacost.com

I shop at all three of the above online stores for my needs. None of the links contain referrals because I'm not in this to make any money from anyone.  

How do you feel about these smoothies?  Much better than the kale ones?  Are you looking forward to fruit smoothies tomorrow?  What are your favorite fruits so I can have some ideas of what to post for you!

Tomorrow: Fruit smoothies!

11 comments:

John Mullin said...

Trying my 1st chocolate smoothie, so far so good!

Beloved said...

Carolyn,
thanks for following me on linky followers; I've returned the favor. I'm looking forward to getting to know you through your writing.
Peace and good to you.

Grace said...

Sounds yummy and you are right about chocolate getting a bad name. Real chocolate increases your metabolism when eaten in moderation and I've been on some exercise programs that suggest it.

Kari said...

Wow, you sure know a lot about smoothies! I always like to put yogurt in mine, but I don't think that would work well with chocolate. I think coconut milk and chocolate would be really tasty.

Thanks for all the tips!

Kim Justice said...

Gotta Love Chocolate!! Thanks for the recipes.

Beck Valley Books said...

Oh my word, you had me at the word 'chocolate', these sound delicious, cant wait for the fruit ones aswell.

Kelly said...

Yum! Have you found a stevia brand that you like? I haven't had any luck.

Shopping Tips And Tricks said...

Oh! We love making smoothies! We will definitely need to try the chocolate one!

Diane said...

I have never tried dates before but I might have to pick some up!

Grace said...

What a great recipe and you are right about chocolate getting a bad rap. I've been on exercise programs where they recommended eating 'real chocolate' in moderation as it helps with the metabolism.

Anita Anderson said...

i feel my mouth watering right about now. Yummy.

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