• Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
Traffic Light Cook
menu icon
go to homepage
  • Recipes
  • Ingredients
  • Wellness
    • Meal Planning
  • Subscribe
    • Email
  • subscribe
    search icon
    Homepage link
    • Recipes
    • Ingredients
    • Wellness
      • Meal Planning
    • Subscribe
    • Email
  • ×

    Home » 15 Minutes or less

    Energizing Chocolate Cherry Smoothie

    July 26, 2019 by Garima@TLC 1 Comment This post may contain affiliate links

    Jump to Recipe Print Recipe

    What do you usually have for breakfast if you are in a hurry? Well, if you miss this important meal of the day for the lack of time in the morning, this energizing chocolate cherry smoothie offers a filling, nutritious breakfast that tastes like a dessert.

    The cherry season is on the wane; maybe a couple of weeks more. Of course, you can always use frozen cherries to make this decadent smoothie. Rich in antioxidants, cherries make an excellent dessert on their own. However, cherry and chocolate combination is made in the heaven.

    Choose healthy fats

    I think when it comes to macronutrients--fat receives a lot of attention. Either we despise  (fat-free diet) it or embrace it (Keto diet) with full arms. A quick rule for choosing fats, especially if you are over 40,  is to avoid or minimize saturated fats, the kind found in animal food products and a few plant-based ingredients such as coconut. Embrace omega-3 and mono- and poly-unsaturated fats. And avoid trans fats like the plague. The universal truth is that fat is an essential nutrient--meaning we absolutely need it--for us to live (more on this later). The biggest benefit of eating fat is that it keeps us satiated for a long time, which can prevent overeating.

    of all the types of fats, Omega-3s remain low in our diet. Hemp hearts, shelled hemp seeds, used in this energizing chocolate cherry smoothie, are an excellent source. You can buy hemp hearts in most grocery stores in the natural section. I often buy it online; Amazon.com offers the best price on hemp hearts. Be sure to store hemp hearts in refrigerator after opening.

    Choice of protein

    Much like fat, protein also has the power to keep you full for a long time. I often use cooked chickpeas in my smoothies to add protein (and fiber). I have tried many other types of lentils and bean, but chickpeas pass the test every time in not changing the flavor of the smoothie. An easier option is plant-based protein powder. My favorite brands are Sunwarrior and Garden of Life. About half a scoop works great in this smoothie.

    You may also like other smoothies on TLC:

    Protein-rich Berry and Mint Smoothie

    TLC Energizing Morning Green Smoothie

    Meal plan the energizing chocolate cherry smoothie for breakfast or snack

    The only meal planning tip for making this yummy smoothie is to put all the ingredients on your grocery list. You can whip this up in less than 20 minutes.

    Energizing cherry Chocolate smoothie Bowl 761x1024 1

    Energizing Chocolate Cherry Smoothie

    Enjoy this sumptuous, energizing chocolate cherry smoothie, prepared within 20 minutes, for breakfast or a quick snack in between meals. It tastes like a good-for-you dessert.
    Print Recipe Pin Recipe
    Prep Time 7 mins
    Cook Time 5 mins
    Course Breakfast, Snack
    Servings 1
    Calories 433 kcal

    Equipment

    • Blender
    • Cherry pitter (optional)

    Ingredients
      

    • 3/4 cup almond milk (no-waste recipe, or store bought)
    • 1/3 cup water (filtered, preferably at room temperature)
    • 1/4 avocado* (ripe, peeled and cubed)
    • 1/2 cup cherries (fresh or frozen, fresh used in this recipe)
    • 1 tbsp raw cacao powder**
    • 1/3 cup chick peas (cooked, or sub with 1/2 scoop of plant-based protein powder)
    • 1 tsp pure vanilla extract
    • 1 pinch sea salt (Pink Himalayan used, optional)
    • 1/4 tsp ground cinnamon
    • 2 tsp unsweetened dried shredded coconut flakes
    • 5 leaves fresh mint (optional)
    • 1 tbsp hemp seeds (or equal amount ground flax seeds)
    • 1 medjool date (optional)

    Instructions
     

    • Have all the ingredients ready near the blender. Wash the cooked chickpeas under running water (if using). Wash cherries and mint leaves under running water. Either use a cherry pitter to pit cherries or cut around the seed.
    • Add all the ingredients to blender and blend until smooth. Enjoy!

    Notes

    *if you are trying to reduce fat in diet, replace avocado with 1/2 a medium-sized banana. 
    **add 1/2 tbsp more, if you prefer intense chocolate flavor

    Nutrition

    Calories: 433kcalCarbohydrates: 55gProtein: 15gFat: 20gSaturated Fat: 3gSodium: 297mgPotassium: 805mgFiber: 14gSugar: 24gVitamin A: 151IUVitamin C: 10mgCalcium: 288mgIron: 5mg
    Keyword Gluten-free, Vegan
    Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Suma

      September 21, 2019 at 8:00 pm

      Wonderful recipe! worked very well for breakfast. We used blueberries instead of cherries. the rich chocolate taste was great for a morning treat!

      Reply

    Leave a Reply Cancel reply

    Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

    Recipe Rating




    Primary Sidebar

    Recent Posts

    • Niçoise Salad (vegan)
    • Easy Gazpacho: Antioxidants in a soup bowl
    • Best Ever Guacamole
    • Indian Red Lentil & Spinach Dal (Stovetop)
    • Indian Tamarind (imli) Chutney

    Recent Comments

    1. Garima@TLC on Beet Energy Juice
    2. Garima@TLC on West African Sweet Potato & Peanut Soup (with nut-free version)
    3. Kristy on West African Sweet Potato & Peanut Soup (with nut-free version)
    4. Traffic Light Cook on Cream of Broccoli Soup
    5. Traffic Light Cook on West African Sweet Potato & Peanut Soup (with nut-free version)

    Footer

    ↑ back to top

    About

    Privacy Policy

    Disclaimer

    Terms & Conditions

    Newsletter

    SUBSCRIBE

    As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

    Copyright © 2022 Traffic Light Cook(Garima Lal, LLC). All rights reserved.

    We use cookies on our website to give you the most relevant
    and best experience on our website. By clicking “Accept”, you consent to the use of ALL the cookies. please read our Privacy Policy
    Do not sell my personal information.
    Cookie SettingsAccept
    Read More
    Manage consent

    Privacy Overview

    This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Out of these, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience.
    Necessary
    Always Enabled
    Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. These cookies ensure basic functionalities and security features of the website, anonymously.
    CookieDurationDescription
    cookielawinfo-checkbox-analytics11 monthsThis cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Analytics".
    cookielawinfo-checkbox-functional11 monthsThe cookie is set by GDPR cookie consent to record the user consent for the cookies in the category "Functional".
    cookielawinfo-checkbox-necessary11 monthsThis cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookies is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Necessary".
    cookielawinfo-checkbox-others11 monthsThis cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Other.
    cookielawinfo-checkbox-performance11 monthsThis cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Performance".
    viewed_cookie_policy11 monthsThe cookie is set by the GDPR Cookie Consent plugin and is used to store whether or not user has consented to the use of cookies. It does not store any personal data.
    Functional
    Functional cookies help to perform certain functionalities like sharing the content of the website on social media platforms, collect feedbacks, and other third-party features.
    Performance
    Performance cookies are used to understand and analyze the key performance indexes of the website which helps in delivering a better user experience for the visitors.
    Analytics
    Analytical cookies are used to understand how visitors interact with the website. These cookies help provide information on metrics the number of visitors, bounce rate, traffic source, etc.
    Advertisement
    Advertisement cookies are used to provide visitors with relevant ads and marketing campaigns. These cookies track visitors across websites and collect information to provide customized ads.
    Others
    Other uncategorized cookies are those that are being analyzed and have not been classified into a category as yet.
    SAVE & ACCEPT