Chocolate Peanut Butter Protein Smoothie

This Clean Eating Chocolate Peanut Butter Smoothie is more like a treat than a nutritious breakfast or snack.

I used homemade almond milk and homemade peanut butter, both of which are really easy to do and you have control over the quality of the ingredients.

This is really one of my husband’s favorite smoothies using his favorite (non-vegan) protein powder, but when I make it for myself, I use my favorite vegan plant-based protein powder, but feel free to use your favorite vanilla protein powder.

He doesn’t really care for my “green” and “plant-based” protein powder mixes I like to use so this is the only way I can get him to drink a smoothie (without complaining).

I also didn’t add a lot of superfoods in this one except maca powder, raw cacao powder and raw cacao nibs to garnish.

If you can, try to get organic peanut butter or make your own since the non-organic store-bought versions have GMO ingredients, refined sugar and salt.  It can also contain up to 8 different pesticides.

Here’s the ingredient list for a store-bought peanut butter:

 

S.A.D. (Standard American Diet) Great Value Creamy Peanut Butter:

Ingredients: Peanuts Roasted, Sugar, Contains Less Than 2% of Molasses, Vegetable Oil Hydrogenated (Rapeseed, Cottonseed, Soybeans), Salt (source)

FoodFacts.com Rating:  ‘F”

 

Want more healthy smoothie recipes?  Check out Kale and Banana Green Smoothie,  Pomegranate and Maca Protein Smoothie, Mango and Hemp Seed Smoothie or my Clean Eating Cookbook with an entire chapter of 20 healthy, clean eating smoothie recipes you will love!

 

 

 

5 Fast Facts About Raw Cacao Powder:*

• super high in anti-oxidants
• promotes cardiovascular health
• contains essential fats
• can help to decrease blood pressure
• contains over 300 compounds including protein, calcium, copper, zinc and iron

5 Fast Facts About Almonds (Almond Milk):*

• helps to regulate cholesterol and blood pressure
• energy booster
• loaded with calcium and fiber
• 1/4 cup contains 8 grams of vegan protein
• high in anti-oxidants

5 Fast Facts About Epic Plant-Based Protein:*

• organic, raw, vegan, gluten-free, non-GMO
• contains 19 grams of ultra-clean plant-based protein per serving
• one serving contains 10% iron
• contains 7 organic superfoods
• multi-source protein with a complete amino acid profile

5 Fast Facts About Peanuts (Peanut Butter):*

• excellent source of vitamin E
• high in folate
• contains tryptophan which helps fight depression
• good source of fiber
• excellent source of vegan protein

5 Fast Facts About Maca Powder:*

• increases stamina
• beneficial to the circulatory system
• can regulate hormonal imbalances
• acts as an anti-carcinogen and anti-oxidant
• enhances memory, learning and mental ability

5 Fast Facts About Raw Cacao Nibs:*

• excellent source of anti-oxidants
• contains one of the highest dietary sources of magnesium
• one ounce has 9 g of fiber
• one ounce contains 4 g of raw vegan protein
• one ounce contains 6% DV of iron

 

*These statements have not been evaluated by Food and Drug Administration.  This information is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease.

 

 

 

 

 

Tip #1:  My favorite raw/vegan plant-based protein powder is Epic Plant-Based Protein (Vanilla Lucuma), but feel free to use your favorite brand (use 5 tablespoons of this brand).  When I make this for my husband, he likes a vanilla grass-fed whey protein (use 5 tablespoons of this brand) which has organic stevia added as a sweetener and no soy lecithin.  If your protein powder is unsweetened, you may want to add 1 – 2 medjool dates (pitted) to add a little sweetness.

Tip #2:  I make my own homemade almond milk to avoid the additives in the store-bought boxed almond milks.  It’s also important because just because the store-bought almond milk is organic, doesn’t mean they are using raw, unpasteurized almonds, which you can use when you make your own.

Tip #3:  I added maca powder for extra nutrition, but you can leave it out.

 

 

 

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