Mint Chocolate Protein Smoothie (No Banana)

Quickly satisfy chocolate cravings with this mint chocolate protein smoothie and get 32 grams of protein, good fats and protective antioxidants—easy to make in just 5 minutes with simple ingredients. Made without any banana, perfect for avocado lovers! Vegan, gluten free, nut free and soy free.

Why You’ll Love This Smoothie

• Extra creamy
• Has 32 grams of protein
• Packed with good fats

This mint chocolate protein smoothie tastes like a dessert and the thick, creamy consistency is ultra satisfying. It’s made with just healthy ingredients and this smoothie can be enjoyed as breakfast, a high protein post-workout snack or even as dessert! The flavour is similar to an After Eight chocolate but combined with the taste of avocado.

Cocoa powder gives this minty smoothie its rich chocolate flavour. There are antioxidants in cocoa powder like polyphenols, which protect your body from radical cell damage. This is important as radical cell damage accumulates over time and leads to chronic diseases. Cocoa powder also has an anti-inflammatory effect on the gut. That means regularly adding cocoa powder to your smoothies is a healthy choice.

The super creamy base of this smoothie is made with avocados. High cholesterol may be lowered to healthy levels by eating avocados as they are rich in omega-3 fatty acids. Avocados are high in fibre and good fat, meaning they encourage satiety and promote a well functioning digestive tract. Avocados are the perfect fruit for creating a smooth and creamy smoothie consistency.

Ingredients Needed

These are the ingredients you will need to make this mint chocolate protein smoothie.

Avocado: Fully ripe avocados with the pits removed.

Himalayan salt: Balances out the sweetness and brings depth to the other ingredients.

Mint extract: Liquid peppermint extract works best. Use a large handful of washed leaves if you prefer to use fresh mint.

Cocoa powder: Gives the smoothie its chocolate flavour. Raw cacao powder can also be used if preferred.

Protein powder: Any favourite chocolate vegan protein powder, be sure to use the sweetened kind as the avocado smoothie base isn’t sweet tasting on its own.

Oat milk: The liquid that brings all of the other ingredients together to blend smoothly and adds a creamy consistency.

Optional add in: Maple or agave syrup for an extra sweet dessert smoothie. Add 2-3 tablespoons or to taste.

For ingredient amounts and instructions, please see the recipe card at the bottom of the post.

Benefits

Hydrating

Staying properly hydrated is a basic requirement for optimal health. By incorporating daily smoothies you can maintain your ideal hydration level more easily. Start each morning with a smoothie for easy hydration!

High fibre

Easily get more fibre in your every day diet! In addition to being generally healthy, getting enough fibre can be extremely helpful for weight loss as it helps keep you feeling full for longer, without adding calories. Fibre also helps improve our gut health.

Nutrient dense

Vegan smoothies are a great way to get more nutrient rich foods in each day. By blending them into a single meal, it’s super quick, easy and fun! Choose ingredients like dark leafy greens, berries, nuts, seeds and fruits to make your smoothies nutrient rich.

Variations

Try an alternative plant milk

This recipe uses oat milk but you can try using any plant based milk you prefer. Some alternatives include soy, almond or cashew! You can also make your own plant milk from scratch.

Add hidden greens

It’s easy to add greens to this smoothie for extra nutrition. Use a handful of fresh or frozen baby spinach for the mildest tasting greens that are undetectable once combined with the chocolate and avocado flavours.

Make it without protein powder

A few tablespoons of hemps seeds or vegan greek yogurt can be used in place of protein powder. Because the protein powder is what gives this recipe its sweetness, make sure to also add 2-3 tablespoons of agave or maple syrup to the blender.

Instructions

• Add all ingredients to blender.

• Start blending at low speed for 5-10 seconds. Increase to high speed and blend for 1-2 minutes. Use the blender tamper to push ingredients down towards the blades.

• Pour into a glass and serve your mint chocolate protein smoothie.

Prep & Blending

Add ingredients in the correct order

Always add liquid ingredients to your blender first. Then add powders, nut butters, nuts and seeds. Then add fresh greens and fresh fruit. Finally add your solid ingredients like frozen fruit. If using a small blender container with a twist on lid, reverse the order so that when you turn the container over to blend the frozen ingredients are farthest away from the blades.

Use a tamper

Push ingredients down towards the blades while blending using the tamper that comes with your blender. This helps to avoid thick smoothies from getting stuck, so you don’t have to stop blending and scrape down the sides of the container.

Don’t over blend

Try to blend your smoothie for less than a couple of minutes. If blended for too long, even thick smoothies will become thin. This is because the heat generated by the blades and motor of the blender heat up your ingredients while they are being blended.

Use a high power blender

For smoothies that have a perfectly smooth and creamy texture use a high powered blender such as a Vitamix. It can break down any ingredients to much finer particles than standard blenders, and more nutrients are released. A high speed blender also reduces the time you need to blend your recipe, which helps keep it nice and cold.

Chill your glass

By placing your smoothie glass in the freezer for a few moments you can help your smoothie stay cool for longer. This is especially helpful if you’re in a hot climate. Pop it into the freezer while you are prepping and blending, then take it out when it’s time to pour your finished smoothie!

FAQ’s

Is this dessert smoothie healthy enough to eat every day?

This mint chocolate smoothie is super healthy and can be enjoyed every day as dessert or breakfast! It’s a great alternative to less healthy treats made with more processed ingredients.

Can I lose weight with smoothies?

Smoothies are an excellent weight loss food! This is because they are generally lower calorie and higher in fibre and nutrients. Due to high water content, the large volume of a smoothie helps your stomach to feel satiated. And the fibre keeps you feeling full for longer, without feeling weighed down or tired like a huge meal would.

Can smoothies be refrigerated?

Smoothies are best enjoyed immediately after blending, while they are freshest. However you can refrigerate most smoothies for 1-2 days in an airtight container such as a jar.

Can I make smoothies without a high speed blender?

Yes, you can still make smoothies with a regular blender. It might take more patience depending on the recipe, but it can work. Turn off the blender to scrape down the sides of the container, and secure the lid before continuing to blend. Repeat as needed. Alternatively you can add a small amount of additional liquid to the recipe, which should help.

How can I increase the protein?

If you wish for your smoothie to have a higher protein content, you can simply add (more) protein powder to the recipe. Plain unsweetened plant bas

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