I definitely feel like I’ve been a bit MIA around these parts lately, but hopefully that will soon change. Two things are finally official… we have moved the very last of our items out of the house {who knew we had so much STUFF?!}, and as of 10am yesterday morning, we closed on the house and it is once-and-for-all SOLD. Praise the Lord! As much work as this transition has been, we are so thankful to have sold the house and walked away financially in a better place, it is truly a blessing! While we have no idea what the next chapter of our lives holds, we are anticipating it with hopeful expectations.
NOW, let’s talk about this PB2 Dark Chocolate Banana Smoothie! When Josh or I have a craving for something cold and sweet, this is my go-to! It.Rivals.Ice.Cream. And that says a lot coming from a person with such a deep affection for ice cream. As much as I love eating healthy and highly recommend it… I would happily trade dinner for Jeni’s Splendid Ice Cream… Dark Chocolate and Brambleberry Crisp PLEASE.
Luckily this guilt-free smoothie satisfies those ice cream cravings, while providing a decent source of fiber, protein and antioxidants without the use of processed sugar.
This smoothie is also dairy friendly and can easily be made vegan by using maple syrup in place of the honey. Best of all, this mouth-watering-treat easily comes together with just a short list of six ingredients. One of which is Organic Maca Powder! If you’re not familiar with maca powder, it has been hailed in Peru for years as a superfood that can help improve health and vitality. I recommend purchasing 100% Certified Organic, which is kosher, non-GMO, gluten-free, vegan and raw.
Maca root is considered an adaptogen which is an herb that appears to increase the body’s ability to adapt to stress and changing situations. In order to be considered an adaptogen, an herb must have three traits: it must be nontoxic to the user, generate a nonspecific response, {meaning that it does not target a specific region of the body, but benefits the body as a whole} and it must help to create a state of balance or normalization in the user, restoring the natural homeostasis.
I mentioned here that I came across this organic maca powder in the gourmet health food section at TJ Maxx {odd place to find it, I know}. I had read about its health benefits a while back, but hadn’t been able to find it in our local stores – I didn’t exactly scour all options. I’m sure Whole Foods carries it. Non-the-less, I eagerly picked up a bag and have been looking forward to adding it to a smoothie and sharing it with you! I’ve also been adding it to my yogurt each morning. In addition to these two uses, you can add it to drinks, baked goods, chocolates and cereal.
Additional Benefits of Maca Powder:
- Help boost energy levels, even enhance athletic performance
- Has a balancing effect on hormone levels
- May help reduce depression and improve learning/cognitive function.
- Rich in potassium, which prevents high blood pressure.
- High in antioxidants
- Maca is a complex, nutrient-dense whole food source of vitamins, amino acids, plant sterols, essential minerals and fatty acids.
- It has been traditionally used in Peru as a stress-fighting adaptogen, as well as to increase stamina, boost libido and combat fatigue
As with many super foods or herbs that are getting a lot of exposure for their health benefits, there are also some potential side effects that cause a bit of controversy. My advice, before introducing Maca Root into your daily diet, would be to read up on it and see if you think it’s a good fit for you, or seek a local herbalist for their guidance!
Good news is it’s not essential to this smoothie, just an added benefit. If you don’t have Maca Powder, make it without!
I made this smoothie after Josh and I had packed up nearly everything in the house. No blender {hence using the food processor for a smoothie!}, no cutting boards, food photography props…nothing. So to the right is a picture of our dining table in its normal state, and to the left is what the top looked like after these photos. I had a bit of scrubbing to do!
Regardless, I got the smoothie made, photographed, EATEN, and now shared with you! :)
Happy Friday, enjoy your weekend!
PB2 Dark Chocolate Banana Smoothie
Ingredients
- 2 1/2 frozen bananas
- 1.5 tbsp honey
- 2 tbsp PB2
- 1 oz dark chocolate chopped
- 1 tsp maca powder
- 1 1/2 - 2 cups almond milk depending on how thick you like your smoothies
Instructions
- Blend frozen bananas in food processor until smooth and creamy.
- Add honey, PB2, Dark Chocolate chunks, maca powder and almond milk, then blend on high until well mixed.
- Sprinkle with dark chocolate shavings and/or chopped peanuts.
Nutrition
Nutrition info taken from LIVESTRONG.com and wisegeek.com.
