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Packed with vitamins and antioxidants, this delicious, tangy 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. This is HUGE for me.
It is crazy how much I love this time of year and all of the anticipation and excitement, but it always amazes me how incredibly difficult it is to stay focused on my healthy lifestyle.
Too many treats and temptations out there, right?
So I need to make a conscious effort to eat more healthy foods to balance it all out.
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…
And a wonderful reminder that healthy really can still taste delicious.
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!
Side note, because I am a mom, if you have picky kids who might scoff at the color, you might want to lighten up on the spinach. The combination of green, red and brown isn’t always the prettiest color.
And although I don’t care because it tastes so damn good, I know some kids might be completely turned off. So by adding less spinach it will make it look more chocolatey, if that makes any sense?
Trust me, I get it. Picky kids can be very frustrating but the idea is to keep introducing them to healthy options even if they constantly say no.
I promise one day they might just surprise you and say yes. They might not ever like it but even just trying new things is a big deal for picky kids.
I thought I would share some more delicious smoothie recipes with you guys:
Strawberry Watermelon Smoothie from Lauren Kelly Nutrition
Blood Orange Smoothie from Back to Her Roots
Coconut Quinoa Smoothie from Lauren Kelly Nutrition
Matcha Mint Coconut Smoothie Bowl from The Healthy Maven
Cherry Lime Smoothie Bowl from Lauren Kelly Nutrition
Pineapple Upside Down Strawberry Smoothie from Fit Foodie Finds
Banana Split Smoothie from Lauren Kelly Nutrition
Paleo Purple Sweet Potatoes Smoothie with hidden cauliflower from Fit Mitten Kitchen
If you make this yummy smoothie or any of my other recipes, please come back and let me know. You guys know that I love to hear from you!
Thank you for stopping by and please come back again soon!
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No Bake Crispy Mint Chocolate Chip Balls {Matcha Powder, Vegan, Gluten-Free, Dairy-Free}
Slow Cooker Pumpkin Quinoa Granola {Vegan, Gluten-Free, Dairy-Free}
Lauren, first of all congrats on finishing all your shopping! What a relief! And this looks so good, while still being so healthy! LOVE!!!
I 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!
I’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!
I love this so much! It’s full of seasonal flavors and completely nourishing – great way to start the day energized!
This sound so festive and refreshing! I need one now 🙂
I’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 ; )
Shopping?!?! I’m also behind. I think it is going to be a long week for me.
Oh, I love this – chocolate and cranberries are a great combination (and I love spinach in smoothies)!
I feel healthier just by reading the ingredients. No really. I’m sure this is delicious, and I’m going to try it!
I 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!
Smoothies 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!