Chocolate Green Smoothie: Creamy, Filling and 230 Calories

I love this smoothie. Not only is it delicious and super chocolatey (especially when I do hefty scoops of cocoa!), but my body thanks me for it too. I feel energetic, not heavy or bloated like I do after some of the fried foods I also really enjoy. I’m Southern, after all!

I’m trying to get away from the less nutritionally dense things in my food drawer. That’s easier said than done. Like today: I went to the Asian market here in Provo and couldn’t help myself when I saw homegrown fresh okra. Now I have to fry it, because fried okra is just so good. 😄 Still, this smoothie tastes great and leaves my body thanking me.

The Best Part Isn’t in the Blender

My favorite part of this smoothie has nothing to do with the ingredients. It’s the nostalgia.

I’ve struggled most of my life with listening to my body. I have this unusual thing where I don’t really feel hunger pangs. Hunger is more mental for me: my mind starts drifting toward food, or I see a restaurant and think about eating. When I get involved in a task, I just forget to eat. And if I get upset, my appetite is gone.

Years ago I went through a long, dark tunnel of life, where I didn’t know if I would ever see the sun again, and I lost a lot of weight. That’s not usually me. I’m normally a very upbeat, happy-go-lucky, positive kind of guy.

Then along came this amazing, beautiful woman who walked through my door to join me and my friends from our singles ward for a Harry Potter marathon. She changed my world! (I shared the whole story in How I Met My Significant Other: How the Magic Got Started.)

Back then, before we were even dating, she was working out a lot and starting to eat plant-based. I learned so much from her about listening to my body. This smoothie was one of the very first recipes she shared with me, and one of the first things of her cooking I ever tried. (She’s an incredible cook, I might add.)

I’m still working on it. Today is a prime example: I got in the zone on some fun projects and totally skipped lunch. I don’t even remember what I had for breakfast, ha ha! But I’m working to regulate my eating a little better, and this smoothie is a great place to start. It has a lot of volume, keeps me full for hours, and it’s only about 230 calories.

Chocolate Green Smoothie Recipe

Recipe from my wife. Makes 1 large smoothie, about 230 calories (base recipe, before add-ins).

Ingredients

• 1/2 frozen banana
• 2–3 cups frozen spinach or other leafy greens
• 1/2 frozen zucchini
• 2 scoops protein powder
• 1/2 tsp chia seeds
• 1/2 tsp flax seeds
• 2 tbsp baking cocoa (I go hefty!)
• A dash of sea salt (never skip it!)
• 2–3 squirts liquid chocolate stevia
• 1/2 cup almond milk
• Extra water and ice as needed

Steps

1. Add the almond milk to a high-powered blender first, then the greens, banana, zucchini and protein powder.
2. Add the chia seeds, flax seeds, cocoa, sea salt and stevia.
3. Blend until smooth.
4. Add water and ice a little at a time until it’s thick, creamy and milkshake-y.
5. Taste, add another squirt of stevia or a bit more cocoa if you like, and enjoy!

Never forget the salt. It just really makes chocolate smoothies pop!

My Favorite Swaps and Add-Ins

I know the recipe says certain amounts, but honestly, I go more by feel. It’s a really flexible recipe:

• No zucchini? Frozen riced cauliflower is really good, or try some green cabbage.
• A little red cabbage is good in there too.
• A couple sticks of celery are delicious! They add a fresh crispness to the flavor.
• Broccoli: go easy. I learned it’s kind of strong.
• Rolled oats: I’ll sometimes add 1/4 cup.
• Walnuts or pumpkin seeds, when I’m in the mood.
• Sunflower seeds are really good too, but go light, because the flavor can be a little strong.
• Dates: I add 4–6 almost every time. I get mine at Sam’s Club.
• Pero: my secret ingredient for a little bitter note (more on that below!).

Why Pero?

My wife and I both served missions in South America years ago. She served in Lima, Peru, and I served in the Chile Antofagasta Mission, which bordered hers. As members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, we don’t drink coffee or tea, though we love herbal tea! In place of coffee, we picked up Pero.

I love being a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, and serving as a missionary in Chile is still one of the greatest blessings of my life. If you’ve ever been curious about what we believe, you’re always welcome to learn more at ChurchofJesusChrist.org.

Pero is a caffeine-free, roasted grain drink made from barley, malted barley, chicory and rye. I like a bitter edge to my chocolate green smoothie, and a little spoonful of Pero is so good with the cocoa.

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What’s your go-to smoothie add-in? And have you ever tried Pero or another roasted grain drink?