By Brandon McDearis
This month’s recipe is a complete breakfast that feels like a guilty pleasure. While it may taste like dessert, it is a nice balance of protein, carbs, healthy fats and caffeine that are perfect for starting the day. This smoothie is great for those that like to work out in the morning. Drinking half of it can make for great fuel before your training, and finishing the other half afterwards is perfect for recovery and continuing on with the rest of the day. Smoothies are easily digestible, also making them convenient for providing the energy needed during activities such as a long bike ride or hike. I like to keep mine in a hydro flask to keep it cool, and I sip on it throughout the morning to stave off hunger for much of the day.
The recipe yields about 4 servings.
Ingredients:
- 1 banana
- 1 tablespoon almond, cashew or peanut butter
- 2 tablespoons cashews
- 1 tablespoon dark chocolate chips
- 1 teaspoon unsweetened cocoa
- 2 tablespoons chia seeds
- 1 scoop vanilla protein powder (optional)
- 2 tablespoons maple syrup (optional)
- ½ cup strong, cooled coffee
- ½ cup unsweetened almond milk
- 1-2 cups ice
Preparation:
- Combine all ingredients except the ice in a blender.
- Add one cup of ice and blend until smooth.
- Add more ice if needed for texture and/or temperature consistency.
8-ounces (1 cup) is one serving.
Nutrition Facts:
Calories: 190 / Fat: 9.5g / Saturated Fat: 1.5g / Carbohydrates: 17.5 / Fiber: 4.5 / Protein: 10g
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Brandon McDearis is the owner of Your Way Cuisine, www.yourwaycuisine.com, a personal chef and nutrition consulting business. He is also a professional wanderer that spends much of his year trotting the globe and working in places such as Alaska, Australia, and Antarctica.
