Cherry Cacao Smoothie
This cherry cacao smoothie may sound (and taste) like dessert, but it’s actually really healthy. Especially if you use the raw cacao, it is loaded with antioxidants! I suppose it’s kind of like eating a black forest cake. (I also added a bit of spinach, but it’s a secret ingredient, you can’t taste it at all)
Cherries are in season in the spring and early summer. Sometimes it can be hard to find them the rest of the year. Don’t fret if you can’t find any in the market – frozen cherries work perfectly!
Frozen vs fresh: The most nutritious fruits and veggies are those picked at peak ripeness.
Most produce sold in supermarkets is picked prior to ripeness so it can ripen on its way to the supermarket.
The fruits and vegetables in the freezer section are typically picked at peak ripeness and frozen right away. They do loose some nutrition in the freezing process, especially the vegetables that are blanched prior to freezing. However, since they are picked at peak ripeness, their nutritional quality is similar (maybe even higher) to the produce in the supermarket.
The most nutritious fruits and veggies are those picked straight from the farm (a farm stand or a farmers market).
Here in Israel, there are still cherries in the supermarket, but they are a bit overripe. So I take them home, wash them up, take out the pits, and freeze them immediately; they are perfect for smoothies.
Ingredients
2 cups frozen cherries
1 cup loosely packed spinach leaves (fresh or frozen)
1 1/2 tablespoons raw cacao powder (a bit more if you really love chocolate)
1/4 teaspoon of vanilla
1 tablespoon of honey
1 cup of almond milk
Optional: ¼ cup of your favorite vanilla or chocolate protein powder – you may need a bit more water if the powder thickens it up
To Make
Combine all of the ingredients and blend until smooth. It may be necessary to scrape down the blender sides or stir the mixture to ensure that all ingredients have blended.
Let me know what you think!
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