If you’ve been looking for a quick breakfast to perk up your mornings, well here you go. This is a Chocolate Banana Breakfast Smoothie, people. This is a healthy, real-food breakfast that you can have ready in well under 5 minutes. But that’s not why you should make it. You should make it because it’s full of CHOCOLATE. Who doesn’t love chocolate for breakfast. But it gets even better. There is absolutely no – as in zero – added sugar in this smoothie. And it’s gluten free too. And did I mention the chocolate??
Ever since I got my Vitamix (forever to be known as the greatest Mother’s Day gift ever given) I’ve been enjoying the heck out of smoothies for breakfast. You really can’t beat the convenience of a morning smoothie. Not to mention how incredibly easy it is to squeeze in about 17 servings of fruits and veggies in one meal. Alright, that’s an exaggeration, but I know for a fact that I can fit in a minimum of 3 servings without even trying. There’s no way I’d be eating that much fruit for breakfast unless it was in the form of a smoothie.
This Chocolate Banana Smoothie has become the recipe I turn to when I need a little mid-week pick up. I wake up in the morning and remember that I have this ready to go downstairs and suddenly my morning is a little brighter. But don’t just think of this as a breakfast recipe – it also makes a drool-worthy afternoon snack or after dinner treat. Call it a milkshake and watch the kids come running.
It tastes like you’re indulging in something decadent, but without any of that unpleasant guilty feeling. It’s even got a nice boost of protein from a scoop of Greek yogurt, so if you do enjoy it for breakfast you won’t feel like you’re running on empty an hour later.
Chocolate Banana Breakfast Smoothie
makes 1 large smoothie (which is how I like it)
1 medium sized ripe banana (one with a few brown spots is perfect)
1 Tablespoon cocoa powder
1/4 cup plain Greek yogurt (you can use vanilla for a sweeter version if you don’t mind the sugar)
1/4 cup milk
1 cup ice cubes
1 teaspoon flax meal (optional)
Add all ingredients to a blender. Secure the top and blend until smooth.
Personal Note: If you want to drink this on the go, there’s no need to buy a special cup. I’ve found that a travel coffee mug works perfectly if you stick a straw through the hole in the lid. You can a pack of 150 straws at the dollar store for a buck.
recipe adapted from Mexican Chocolate Breakfast Shake by Oh My Veggies
You may also like:
Susan, you are a life-saver! We had these for breakfast this morning; me, my 3yr old, and my picky-eater 11yr old niece. It was a HIT! After two mornings of my niece announcing “I don’t like THAT” in preteen whiny fashion, she gulped this smoothie down like it was heaven! You’re a genius, dear woman. A genius!!! <3
Yay! That makes my whole week! Keep those smoothies coming!
Made these again this morning with a couple modifications…
I had a few bananas on the verge of going too far gone so I sliced them up, put them on wax paper and popped them in the freezer. This morning I used the frozen slices (abt 2 med. nanas) and skipped the ice. I also added a tbs. of peanut butter and cut the cocoa in half.
I do believe you have inspired an addiction in this household! I am totally gonna try this version out next time my niece is over!
tip: i buy a big package of overripe organic bananas from the health food store–the kind they can’t sell anymore so they throw them in a big package and sell it for a couple of bucks?–peel them all, and put them in a gallon ziplock which lives in the freezer. perfect for smoothies, and you wont even need ice cubes. i also use oatmeal or other whole grains from the same place. makes it very cheap! and if you freeze other fruit, like strawberries? add four frozen strawberries instead of the cocoa, and blend away! a gallon zip of frozen bananas and one of frozen strawberries from when they were cheap in season and you’ve got a month ‘o smoothies!
Those are some great tips! Thanks!!