Packed with vitamins and antioxidants, this smoothie is vegan, dairy-free and sugar-free!
With all of the delicious treats I shared last week, I knew I had to take a break and share something that’s still sweet, but crazy healthy. This is the time of year where people can put on some serious pounds, so I wanted to share something nutritious as a reminder to try to stay balanced. I know, it’s not easy, especially this time of year. Trust me, I baked 6 dozen cookies yesterday. Yes, they were healthier, but come on, that’s 6 dozen!
I am almost scared to say this out loud, but here goes nothing….
I think I finished my Christmas shopping!
That’s HUGE for me. I rarely finish this early. I even ordered the personalized calendars for the grandparents and I didn’t need to pay for expedited shipping. HUGE.
So the shopping part is done. But I still have my Christmas Eve and Christmas menu to prepare and organize. I still have a ton more baking to do. And somehow in the midst of all of this I have to find a way to get myself organized. Sigh. That’s the hardest part.
Until then, I am going to try my hardest to resist all of the treats (ok, maybe not ALL of them but you get the point) and try to remain on my healthy eating regimen. I need to do all of my prep day recipes too, but who has the time??
Moderation.
Moderation.
Moderation.
What a great introduction for this recipe…
Chocolate Cranberry Smoothie
Ingredients
- 1 cup almond milk
- 2 tablespoons raw cacao powder
- 2 cups raw spinach
- 1/4 fresh cranberries
- 2-3 drops stevia for sugar-free option or use 1 tablespoon honey (also makes it non-vegan)
- handful of ice cubes
- chia seeds for topping
Instructions
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Place all of the ingredients in a high powered blender in the order shown.
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Blend until smooth. Top with chia seeds if desired.
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ENJOY!
Easy. Healthy. Delicious. And a perfect way to start your morning.
Cacao powder and spinach are naturally packed with antioxidants and vitamins. If you want to add some protein (and not have it be vegan) you can easily add 4-6 ounces of Greek yogurt! I hope you enjoy this as much as I do. I am loving fresh cranberries!
Kristen+@+A+Mind+Full+Mom says
December 14, 2015 at 12:49 pmLauren, first of all congrats on finishing all your shopping! What a relief! And this looks so good, while still being so healthy! LOVE!!!
Martha @ A Family Feast says
December 14, 2015 at 12:56 pmI think I finished my Christmas shopping too – and what a relief! Love this smoothie – we make a chocolate cranberry brownie and the sweet of the chocolate against the tart of the cranberries is a great flavor combination! Can’t wait to try your recipe!
Rose | The Clean Dish says
December 14, 2015 at 1:48 pmI’m almost done with my little bit of Christmas shopping, too – yay! I’d love to try this cranberry smoothie; I haven’t combined cranberries with cacao yet but OMG it looks so delicious and all the ingredients are super healthy! This is my kind of smoothie!
Faith (An Edible Mosaic) says
December 14, 2015 at 5:34 pmI love this so much! It’s full of seasonal flavors and completely nourishing – great way to start the day energized!
Stephanie says
December 14, 2015 at 8:11 pmThis sound so festive and refreshing! I need one now 🙂
Paula - bell'alimento says
December 14, 2015 at 10:01 pmI’m So behind with shopping, I need to kick it into high gear. Maybe I’ll make one of these smoothies on go an online shopping binge ; )
The Food Hunter says
December 14, 2015 at 10:24 pmShopping?!?! I’m also behind. I think it is going to be a long week for me.
Heather | All Roads Lead to the Kitchen says
December 15, 2015 at 12:56 pmOh, I love this – chocolate and cranberries are a great combination (and I love spinach in smoothies)!
Renee - Kudos Kitchen says
December 16, 2015 at 12:20 amI feel healthier just by reading the ingredients. No really. I’m sure this is delicious, and I’m going to try it!
Aly ~ Cooking In Stilettos says
December 16, 2015 at 3:37 amI haven’t even gotten close to finishing any shopping. I’m totally flying by the seat of my pants. As for this smoothie – I need this instead of the morning coffee. It looks delicious!
Nutmeg Nanny says
December 17, 2015 at 8:04 pmSmoothies are my go-to quick morning breakfast treat. They help me stay full without dirtying a bunch of dishes and are always delicious. Love this chocolate cranberry combo…yum!