top secret choco nutbutter smoothie

This is seriously delicious but comes with a couple’a disclaimers. 😊 Are ya ready?

[ Oh by the way … If you are the proud owner of a Vitamix … A. I’m so jealous and B. You can skip right over this part. ]

So here’s the dealio.

Spinach.

I know.

But stick with me here.

Flavor-wise, you’d never have a clue. Seriously this does *not* taste like spinach, and trust me, I had two *very* discerning taste testers including my dad who is *such* a non-adventurous eater, really. They didn’t even know there was anything weird in here.

And by weird I mean healthy.

Not a clue. So that’s cool but here’s the thing … If you own a Ninja like I do (and believe me I love my Ninja but it ain’t no Vitamix!) there may be teeny tiny itty bitty flecks o’ spinach hangin’ out in your smoothie.

Is that a problem?

See this is where the ice cube comes in. It adds a little crunch here and there but see ice is not disturbing in a smoothie.

At all.

And then when they ask, “What’s that in there?” you quite innocently answer, “Ice.”

Cuz it’s true.

Sorta.

I swear they’ll say, “Oh” and won’t bother you again. Or be bothered. Somehow the flecks being ice for whatever reason feels totally ok. (Even to me, who knows the shocking truth!)

So let them live in their little fantasy world where everything that tastes good is decadent and nothing is weird in their smoothie. And we’ll have our secret and everyone will live happily ever after.

Deal? Deal.

Oh, PS … 20 grams of protein. Yahoo!

. . . . . . . . .

Top Secret Choco Nutbutter Smoothie Recipe

• 1/2 cup coconut water
• 2 cups baby spinach (I pre-freeze mine)
• 1 medium banana (peeled, sliced and frozen)
• 1 rounded tbsp brown rice protein powder or 2 tbsp pea protein powder
• 1 tbsp unsweetened sunflower seed butter*
• 1 tbsp maca powder (optional)**
• 2 tsp cocao powder**
• 1 ice cube
• Pinch kosher salt

If using Vitamix, blend all ingredients together on high speed til smooth.

If using a regular blender on high speed, blend coconut water with spinach til leaves are broken down and as miniscule as possible. Add other ingredients (except ice cube) then blend again til smooth, adding more liquid if necessary til you can drink it through a straw. Add ice cube and blend til it breaks down into tiny bits.

Serve immediately. Enjoy!

* Sunflower seed butter gives the nicest nutty flavor but you hereby have my permission to substitute cashew or almond butter … only if you absolutely must! 😊

** Navitas Organics makes some amazing things including cacao and maca powders. Please show them some love! ❤