Chocolate Banana Smoothie (with veggies)

An easy, veggie-loaded Chocolate Banana Smoothie made from good-for-you ingredients. It’s chocolatey, perfectly sweet, loaded with healthy foods and can easily be made with dairy or dairy-free.

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Chocolate banana smoothie

When we first moved to California 9 years ago, my husband and I discovered the magic of In-N-Out Burger. The animal style fries. The secret sauce. And most definitely those amazing chocolate milkshakes. Oh those milkshakes are probably what got me through my pregnancy in the dead heat of summer.

And, while we are a family that believe in moderation over deprivation, we do try to limit our In-N-Out trips to once every few months. Because, while delicious and seemingly better than other large fast food chains…. In-N-Out still has nothing on the goodness of homemade.

But those chocolate milkshakes haunt me, friends. When the heat of summer hits, the first thing I want to kick back with on a lazy Saturday afternoon by the pool is a frosty, chocolatey milkshake. So, I did what I do best and created my own healthy chocolate banana smoothie to sip on instead of those sugar-amped milkshakes….and I did it with some added veggie goodness.

I have been a smoothie lover since the day I really started paying attention to what I was eating. I love that I can toss healthy fruits and veggies into my blender and have an amazing smoothie 30 seconds later.

Smoothies is one of the first places I started veggie-loading our family’s foods and is the first thing I often recommend to people asking where to start transitioning to a real food way of eating. And this chocolate banana smoothie with veggies is going to be a game changer for many of you!

Can you taste the cauliflower in the smoothie?

People are always a bit surprised (and dare I say, suspicious) when I mention that I like make cauliflower smoothies. But, friends, it seriously adds to the creaminess of a smoothie and the cauliflower flavor disappears into the banana and chocolatey goodness.

If you are super iffy about this whole cauliflower in smoothie thing, then go slowly! Maybe only add 1/2 cup of the riced cauliflower and see how you like it. Then work your way up!

Oh! And I personally like to use frozen cauliflower to help give the smoothie a frosty milkshake vibe.

Do you cook the cauliflower before freezing?

This is a personal choice and requires you to reflect a bit on your history with cauliflower. Like broccoli, cauliflower is a cruciferous veggie. Cruciferous vegetables contain complex sugars that some people find hard to digest when eaten raw.

So, if you get belly issues right after eating raw cauliflower, then lightly steaming it prior to freezing is probably a good idea for you when making this smoothie.

Suggested adaptations

1. Add some extra goodness! Amp up the nutrients in this smoothie by tossing in a tablespoon of chia seeds/flax meal and/or hemp hearts!
2. Make it as sweet (or as mild) as you like. We all have different palates and some of us like things sweeter than others. The bananas are the source of sweetness and natural sugar in this chocolate banana smoothie. Play with the amount of banana you add depending on your personal preference.
3. Add some healthy fat. Adding some healthy fat can really help this chocolate banana smoothie fuel you on to your next meal. Add 1/2 an avocado or a scoop of your favorite nut butter to the blender!
4. Add some extra protein. I like to use collagen peptides in my smoothies to up the protein. However, the addition of hemp hearts or your favorite protein powder is also a great way to go.

Want to make sure you always have spinach on hand for this chocolate banana smoothie? Check out my tips & tricks for keeping spinach fresh all week!

Chocolate banana smoothie tips

1. If you don’t have a high-speed blender, consider blending in stages. This will help you to achieve a smooth consistency. Start with the milk and spinach. Blend until completely pureed. Add the cauliflower. Blend. And so on.
2. Add more (or less) liquid to achieve desired consistency. Depending on how thick you like your smoothies, you might find you need to add 1/2 cup or so of water to this blend. Or, if you find your smoothie is too thin for your liking, toss in a few ice cubes to help thicken it up.

Other recipes you are going to love…

• Creamy Cauliflower & Blueberry Smoothie
• Vitamin C Immune Boosting Smoothie
• Oatmeal Green Smoothie Muffins

Loving the chocolate banana smoothie and hungry for more?

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