This Superfood Chocolate Shake is vegan, plant-based, full of healthy whole foods, and it tastes so good you’ll feel like it’s a delicious dessert. It’s just as tasty as any sugary dairy treat, but this contains none of the unhealthy ingredients traditionally found in chocolate shakes.
Healthy and Delicious!
Instead, this is full of delicious and nutritious superfoods that will help you get all the plant-based nutrients.
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What Foods are Superfoods?
So what are superfoods, anyway? The term “superfood” is often used to describe exotic and hard-to-find ingredients. This couldn’t be further from the truth. Superfoods are often items we see in the grocery store every day and think of as ordinary. But, they’re actually super healthy and packed with vitamins, minerals, antioxidants, fiber, flavonoids, and healthy fats. Examples include:
- Dark Leafy Greens
- Berries
- Hemp Seeds
- Dark Chocolate
- Chia and Flax Seeds
- Beets
- Bananas
- Garlic
- Ginger
- Turmeric
- Cinnamon
Healthy Delicious Hemp Seeds
Hemp seeds are a great source of omega-3 fatty acids, which are essential for brain and cardiovascular health. They’re a good source of magnesium. Hemp also contains a fatty acid called GLA (gamma-linolenic acid) which helps regulate hormones.
Hemp Protein Powder Makes This Creamy
Here, in this recipe, I’ve used Wilderness Poets Hemp Protein Powder. I’ve tried all sorts of hemp proteins but this is my favorite one because it’s made with shelled hemp seeds so is not at all bitter. I use it. Every. Single. Day. Usually while making this exact shake. If you order this or anything else from the wonderful folks at Wilderness Poets, use Planted365 at checkout you’ll get $10 off your first purchase!
Health Benefits of Chocolate
The good news is chocolate is healthy! Yay!! That doesn’t mean a sugar and dairy bar with a little bit of chocolate in it is good. Dark chocolate, however, and especially cacao or cocoa powder is full of antioxidants, magnesium, and protein.
Mmm! Chocolate!
Chocolate may also relax blood vessels and improve blood flow. It can raise HDL and protect LDL from oxidation. It contains theobromine, which is a stimulant cousin of caffeine. If caffeine gives you anxiety you may be able to handle theobromine … caffeine affects the central nervous system and theobromine targets smooth muscle. Cocoa has even been shown to contain more antioxidant activity, flavanols, and polyphenols than any other fruit tested. Even more than blueberries and acaia! The high magnesium content helps keep calcium in your bones where it belongs and out of arteries! Calcification inside of arteries is not good!
Nutrients in Beets
Beets are colorful little powerhouses when it comes to nutrition. Beets may help increase nitric oxide in the blood which relaxes the blood vessels and can also help combat endothelial disfunction that can lead to heart disease.
Beautiful, healthy beets …
And they’re a pretty color and delicious, too! The vibrant color gives a clue as to their high antioxidant levels.
Why is Spinach Healthy?
Dark leafy greens may be the healthiest of all. They’re nutrient dense, for sure. Spinach is a dark leafy green that has loads of vitamins and minerals and is quite low in calories.
Spinach contains so much that’s good for you. Like everything else on the list, it has antioxidants and flavanols, plant-based protein, iron, and fiber. It belongs to the Amaranth family and is related to beets and quinoa!
How to Freeze Spinach for Smoothies or Shakes
Fresh spinach in bags or boxes freezes beautifully and really comes in handy when making shakes and smoothies and other recipes. Simple toss the bag or box in the freezer. That’s it. Just make sure the spinach is fresh and the box or bag isn’t squished. When you need it, the spinach is ready to use. I should be loose and fluffy and easy to grab a couple handfuls for smoothies, shakes, soups, etc. Frozen spinach will not thaw out and be good for salads, but will be great for anything blended or cooked!
Let’s Make a Chocolate Shake! (Or Ice Cream!)
So let’s get down to making this delicious chocolate shake. And I’m calling it a shake, but it can also be soft serve ice cream if made thick enough. Adjust the thickness of the shake or ice cream by increasing or decreasing the amount of plant-based milk used.
Superfood Chocolate Shake Vegan Plant Based
This Superfood Chocolate Shake is vegan, plant-based, full of healthy whole foods, and it tastes so good you'll feel like it's a delicious dessert. It's just as tasty as any sugary dairy treat, but this contains none of the unhealthy ingredients traditionally found in chocolate shakes.
Ingredients
- 1 1/2 cups plant-based milk
- 1 tablespoon vanilla extract or 1 teaspoon vanilla powder
- 1/4 cup cacao or cocoa powder
- 2 cups frozen spinach
- 1/2 large beet, peeled
- 2/3 cup wilderness poets hemp protein powder
- stevia to taste
- 3 frozen bananas
- 12 ice cubes
Instructions
- Pour the plant-based milk into a high-speed blender and add the frozen spinach and beet. Puree until smooth.
- Add the remaining ingredients and puree until smooth.
- Add more plant-based milk to adjust thickness, if desired.
- This recipe makes two medium servings. If you need only one serving cut each ingredient in half, approximately. It's not necessary to be extremely precise. It's chocolate.
Notes
Before making this recipe: Place an unopened bag of fresh spinach in the freezer overnight. The spinach leaves should be frozen but loose and easy to remove a handful at a time.
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Nutrition Information:
Yield:
2Serving Size:
1Amount Per Serving: Calories: 360Total Fat: 6gSaturated Fat: 0gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 4gCholesterol: 0mgSodium: 200mgCarbohydrates: 43gFiber: 12gSugar: 16gProtein: 26g
This is an estimate of nutritional information. Please ask your doctor or nutritionist about your specific needs.
Hello! I’m Lisa, a vegan artist, photographer, author, Vegan Life Coach Educator, and RYT 200 yoga teacher. I love showing others how simple and delicious a plant-based diet can be. I draw and paint, cook, write, take lots of pics, eat lots of chocolate, and practice gratitude daily.