This Healthy Chocolate Peanut Butter and Banana Smoothie contains no added sugar and requires no milk! It's deliciously thick and creamy with a rich chocolate flavour.

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Smoothies are a summertime must-have! And for all my fellow chocolate lovers out there, you'll feel me when I say I miss my beloved wintertime hot cocoa. But, with this delicious Chocolate PB Banana Smoothie, I can get a cool, refreshing cacao fix even on the hottest summer days.

All you need to make this yummy Chocolate Smoothie is a handful of whole-food ingredients. It's sweetened with just one banana and doesn't even require milk!

How To Make A Healthy Chocolate PB Banana Smoothie

Making a Healthy Chocolate PB Banana Smoothie couldn't be easier! Simply dump, blend and go!

Step 1 - Place Ingredients In Blender

First, pour one cup of water into your blender jug. Then add one teaspoon pure vanilla extract and one teaspoon collagen powder, collagen creamer or other superfood powder (see the Substituions and Add-Ons section below).

Next, add four to five ice cubes, followed by two tablespoons of natural, unsweetened peanut butter and one heaping tablespoon of cacao powder.

Step 2 - Blend 

Next, blend all the ingredients until smooth. It shouldn't take more than 30 seconds in most blenders.

Step 3 - Enjoy!

Once all the ingredients are blended smoothly, pour your smoothie into a glass and enjoy!

Substitutions & Add-Ons

This Chocolate PB Banana Smoothie is quite versatile. It can be made with plenty of substitutions and add-ons to meet your needs.

Milk / Plant-Milk

If you prefer an ultra-creamy smoothie, you can use milk in place of the water. Use the same amount unless you prefer your smoothies thicker or thinner.

Dandelion Root Tea

A delicious substitute for milk and water is Dandelion root tea! You'll, of course, want it chilled before adding it to your smoothie. So, I like to keep some pre-brewed in the fridge for easy-breezy mornings. 

Dandelion root tea adds a rich, coffee-like flavour without the caffeine! It's also one of the most underrated and overlooked superfoods. If you haven't before, looking at its nutritional profile might surprise you. Dandelion is rich in vitamins C, A, and B6 along with the minerals calcium, iron and magnesium!

All you need to do is brew one cup of dandelion root tea for three to five minutes (or to the strength of your liking). After your tea is brewed, allow it to cool and then place it in the fridge overnight.

Frozen Banana

If you have frozen bananas on hand, you can ditch the ice! Just add one frozen banana in place of the ripe banana and ice. However, you may need to add more liquid (water/milk/dandelion root tea) unless you like your smoothies extra thick. One cup plus two to three tablespoons of water/milk/dandelion root tea should do the trick.

Other Nut/ Seed Butters

If peanut butter isn't your thing (or if you have an allergy), you can always swap it out for another nut or seed butter. That being said, no matter what you swap it with, you won't get quite the same flavour peanut butter provides. However, that isn't necessarily a bad thing! 

I should also note that no matter what nut or seed butter you are using, you will want to make sure it's free of added sugars and oils.

Roasted Almond Butter

Roasted Almond butter is a delicious alternative that gives a deep nutty flavour, similar to peanut butter.

Hazelnut Butter

For those that love the combination of chocolate and hazelnut, roasted hazelnut butter makes a delicious alternative to peanut butter in this chocolatey smoothie.

Sunflower Seed Butter

If you're looking for a nut-free alternative, sunflower seed butter makes the perfect alternative! It has a much more subtle flavour than the other nut butters listed. So, it won't taste exactly like peanut butter, but it also won't take away from the chocolatey goodness.

Superfood Powders

If you love adding a nutritional boost to your smoothie with superfood powders. There are plenty that pair nicely with the chocolate peanut butter flavour. Here's a list of some of my favourites to add. (Some items listed are affiliate links where I may earn a small commission for qualifying purchases at no extra cost to you).

• Aura Grass-Fed Collagen Powder
• Chaga Powder
• Reishi Powder
• Lion's Mane Powder
• Harmonic Arts 5 Mushroom Blend
• Maca
• Lucuma

Is A Chocolate Peanut Butter and Banana Smoothie Healthy?

This Chocolate PB Banana Smoothie is a much healthier alternative than some other chocolate smoothies out there! Let's take a look at why.

No Added Sugar

First off, it's made with simple real food ingredients with no added sugar. Its sweetness comes from just one ripe banana and a splash of vanilla extract. There isn't even any need to use sweetened peanut butter because the banana provides all the sweetness you need.

Gut-Loving

Even though this Chocolate PB Banana Smoothie is quite indulgent, it's actually quite soothing to the gastrointestinal tract. One reason is that bananas are high in pectin (a soluble fibre and prebiotic). Pectin feeds the good bacteria in our guts and is known to have a normalizing effect on bowel function.

Another reason is that cacao also contains prebiotic fibre. The fibre found in cacao feeds bacteria responsible for producing fatty acids that are very beneficial for digestive health. Research has also found that drinks made with cacao can actually increase the beneficial bacteria in our guts!

Heart Healthy

Both bananas and cacao are great foods for heart health! Who knew such a delicious treat, like this Chocolate PB Banana Smoothie could be so beneficial? 

Potassium

First, bananas are an incredible source of potassium. This puts them high on the list of heart-healthy foods. Potassium is a crucial mineral and electrolyte that regulates both fluid balance and heart function. This also means bananas are great for those with high blood pressure!

Cholesterol Lowering Properties

You might be wondering about saturated fat. Well, you'll be happy to know that the saturated fat present in cacao does not elevate cholesterol levels like the fat found in meats. In fact, studies show consumption of peanuts and peanut butter can contribute to lower LDL (Bad cholesterol) and triglyceride levels, making them an excellent food to lower the risk of heart disease.

Rich in Antioxidants

You might be surprised again when I tell you that this Chocolate PB Banana Smoothie is also rich in antioxidants!

Flavonoids

First, cacao powder is an excellent source of flavonoids, a powerful group of phytonutrients. Flavonoids are known for their anti-inflammatory effects and protect cells from oxidative damage.

Resveratrol

Next, we have resveratrol. This potent antioxidant is most commonly known to be found in red wine. However, it is also found in both peanuts and cacao. Resveratrol is most known for protecting the heart and blood vessels. However, it is also great for fighting inflammation and lowering cholesterol levels.

Nutrients that Boost Antioxidant Activity 

This Chocolate PB and Banana Smoothie is not only a good source of antioxidants but also contains many nutrients that boost antioxidant activity!

Vitamin C

Bananas are a wonderful source of many nutrients, including vitamin C, which works in tandem without other nutrients, boosting antioxidant activity.

Magnesium

Most of us are aware that cacao, or chocolate for that matter, is a great (and delicious) source of magnesium. And most of us know that magnesium is great for our muscles, anxiety and bowel function. However, did you know it's also a cofactor of many antioxidant enzymes?

That's right; magnesium is a great nutrient to boost your body's ability to fight oxidative stress.

Seasonal Benefits of This Chocolate PB Banana Smoothie

Early - Late Summer

This Chocolate PB and Banana Smoothie is great to enjoy all summer long!

Bitter Taste

Cacao offers a bitter taste, which is associated with the early to mid-summer months. The bitter taste works on the heart and provides a cooling and dispersing energy. 

Sweet Taste

The banana and peanut butter offer a sweet taste, which is associated with late summer - early autumn (the harvest season). The sweet taste works on the spleen and provides nourishment for when our bodies are packing away nutrients and glucose for the coming winter months.

Builds Qi

Cacao, specifically, is known to build qi (chi/energy) needed to help us get through those long summer days.

Soothes Inner Fire (Calms Shen)

Although cacao helps with energy, it also has a calming effect on our inner fire, which provides a balance to the fire of the summer season. This calming effect cacao offers can help to relieve anxiety and stress.

Cooling & Lubricating 

Bananas are one of my favourite summer foods for their cooling and lubricating effects. Obviously, summer is a time that can be quite hot and dry. Thankfully, nature provides us with many foods that are great for clearing heat from the body, including bananas! However, they are also considered a damp food (primarily providing lubrication to our large intestines and lungs), perfect for resolving issues that come with summer dryness. 

More Healthy Smoothie Recipes You Might Like

• Healthy Strawberry Shortcake Smoothie (without milk)
• Healthy Pineapple Smoothie
• Avocado & Moringa Green Smoothie (Nutrient Rich, Lactogenic)
• Cinnamon Berry & Beetroot Smoothie Bowl (Raw, Vegan)
• Vanilla Spice Adaptogenic Smoothie

If you try this Healthy Chocolate PB Banana Smoothie recipe, let me know how it turns out by leaving a comment and/or a rating below! And make sure you're following along on Pinterest, Instagram and Facebook for more wildly nutritious recipes!

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