Berrylicious Chocolate Smoothie - Wellness with Taryn

I absolutely love how versatile frozen berries are. They’re a must in every health conscious person’s freezer, as you can whip them into something delicious, in a short space of time.

For me, I love how they transform a regular chocolate smoothie into a drink bursting with flavor.

This smoothie is a quick and delicious treat, as a mid-morning or afternoon snack to raise energy levels, and to satisfy a sweet tooth.

There is just something so fitting when you combine chocolate and berries, in this case mixed berries. They really do compliment each other wonderfully. I instantly feel happy after having a sip of this delicious creation, and it really is so quick and easy to make. No excuses here!

I achieve the rich chocolate taste by using raw cacao. As you most probably know, this is the raw, untreated and untainted powder derived from ground cacao beans. Very different to regular store bought cocoa. Raw cacao boast so many amazing nutritional benefits, it’s wonderful to add this to spruce up any dessert or smoothie, without any guilt! It is so good for you, and tastes so amazing in dishes, it really lives up to it’s name being – “The food of the Gods”

Raw cacao is loaded with an array of nutrients, antioxidants and contains all of the compounds that benefit longevity in humans. Some of the oldest people in the world swear that their longevity secrets include the consumption of raw cacao.

Not only is it great for cardiovascular health, due to it’s high levels of polyphenols, raw cacao is an aphrodisiac because it contains anandamide, a substance that induces euphoria. It also contains phenylethylamine (PEA), which is a mood enhancer. It is a good source of dietary fiber, and this fiber and the polyphenols in cacao help to control blood pressure and blood glucose levels.

Pretty amazing stuff, right?

Mixed berries are also loaded with vitamins and a bucket load of antioxidants. With the added benefits of mixed berries, this chocolate smoothie really is packed with amazing nutrients, that’ll boost not only your energy levels, but your overall health. The added fiber from the rolled oats, and omega’s from the chia and ground seeds, really do give this smoothie a well rounded nutrient list.

Ingredients

1 Large Banana (peeled, chopped and frozen)
1 Cup Frozen Mixed Berries
2 Golden Kiwi Fruits
1 Small Avocado
2 TBS Rolled Oats (Leave Out If Gluten Intolerant)
2 Tsp LSA mix (Ground Linseed, Sunflower seed, Almonds)
4 Green Grapes
4-6 Dates (or 2 Medjool Dates)
1 Cup Soy Milk (Or Non-Dairy Milk of your Choice)
2 TBS Raw Cacao
1 Tsp Chia Seeds
Water
Buckwheat Grouts, Pumpkins Seeds, Hazelnuts, Fresh Cherries (Toppings)

Recipe

Place the frozen banana’s, frozen berries and rest of the fruits into a high speed blender. Pulse a few times, to get everything mixing. Add the remaining ingredients and blend until smooth.

You can add water to reach your desired consistency, and can water it down if you are sugar sensitive. This is quite a sweet smoothie, but sweet from natural, earth friendly sugars. These fruits are loaded with fiber, so will have a gradual increased effect on blood sugars, and not a drastic spike.

Serve in a glass and top with the toppings listed above. Sit back and enjoy! Savor each sip 🙂