“Sneaky Green” Healthy Chocolate Shake for Your Kids!
Happy Belated New Year everyone!
I am thrilled to be a part of The Balanced Platter and look forward to this amazing gluten-free, whole foods journey with all of you!
Many of us make New Year’s resolutions to take better care of ourselves – rest, exercise, find better balance, have more fun, and eat more healthy foods.
Whilst on my life-long quest for the perfect “Tess” eating plan that would make me feel at optimum health, I have experimented with what feels like every single whole foods diet known to man! I have embraced Macrobiotics, Ayurvedic and Chinese principles, Acid/Alkaline balance, Raw Foods, Veganism, Vegetarianism, The Body Ecology Diet and many other wonderful whole foods diets that offer wonderful health benefits. You name it, I have tried it!
But it wasn’t until I started including raw green smoothies into my daily diet, that I found the missing link in my quest for health and vitality. I have been drinking a green smoothie (or two or three) every day for years now and I have never been healthier, or had more vitality. I do not get sick. I have no symptoms of candida; my lethargy has ceased; my hay fever has decreased; and my mind is totally clear. In short – my symptoms of “less than perfect health” have disappeared.
Drink Green Smoothies For Health
No matter what “eating regime” you are following, and whether you are a vegan, vegetarian, or an omnivore; drinking raw green smoothies is one of the most valuable things you can do to give your body a healthy advantage.
Not only are green smoothies loaded with live enzymes and vital nutrients; they are quick, easy, and taste delicious! Better still, anyone can make them, and the sky is the limit with taste variations. Just throw in any fruit or vegetable that you choose and you are good to go!
I always recommend starting with mild tasting greens like baby spinach and romaine lettuce that are easily masked with sweet fruits like mangoes, pineapple, pears, and apples. As you drink more green smoothies, start experimenting with reducing the sugar content and increasing the ratio of vegetables and greens. My all-time favorite green smoothie blend is my Tropical Green Mango Smoothie. Apart from the green color, you would never know this smoothie had spinach in it.
However, I am aware that most children and some adults claim to be “allergic” to anything green! LOL! I am a huge fan of hiding green vegetables in as many dishes as possible to try and get kids to eat in a more nutritious way.
This raw vegan chocolate spinach milkshake is a brilliant option because the chocolate covers up all manner of “green sins” and instead of looking like a green smoothie, it looks and tastes like a conventional chocolate milkshake.
This smoothie does have quite a high natural sugar content with two bananas and some dates. But it is a great introduction to green smoothies and a fantastic way to sneak some extra veggies into any “greenophobes” young and old. You can gradually reduce the bananas and dates and increase the greens.
Raw Vegan Chocolate Spinach Shake
This is one of my favorite quick easy allergy free treats because it is gluten free, dairy free, egg free, nut free, soy free and sugar free. Give this delicious vegan chocolate shake a spin in your house and see if anyone knows your green secret.
What is your favorite recipe for sneaking veggies into children?
“Sneaky Green” Healthy Chocolate Shake
2 cups organic unsweetened rice milk
3 cups of raw baby spinach
2 fresh or frozen bananas
6 pitted organic dates
3 Tbsp cacao powder or unsweetened cocoa powder (whatever you have)
1 tsp pure vanilla extract
pinch of Celtic sea salt
- Throw all ingredients in your blender (I use a Vitamix) and puree until rich and creamy.
- Add a handful of ice cubes for a really cold smoothie.
- Devour and Smugly Smile. YUMMO!
For more information about the health benefits of green smoothies check out the “Why Make Green Smoothies” page of Healthy Blender Recipes.
**Don’t miss out on your chance to WIN a Vitamix 5200 High Speed Blender in my January Giveaway. Good Luck!
Tess Masters, AKA “The Blender Girl” writes a quirky blog called Healthy Blender Recipes, sharing super quick and easy allergy friendly vegetarian, vegan, and raw recipes using a blender, mixer or food processor. All of her healthy recipes are gluten free, and utilise whole foods and natural flavourings and sweeteners. Many of the recipes are also dairy free, egg free, nut free, and soy free. You can search for recipes for specific diets or food allergies by using the handy clickable icons on her website.
Tess I can’t wait to try this. I adore my green smoothies – I always start my day with a fruit-based one and I love it! Easing your way into it is key. Totally worked for me
I usually have an afternoon dairy-free milk based smoothie but I don’t put greens in it. I’m making this recipe this afternoon! Thanks for giving me the push I needed. I’m thrilled you’re one of our contributors.
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Tess Masters Reply:
January 17th, 2012 at 11:54 am
@Maggie Savage, Thankyou for having me Maggie! I am so excited to meet you in person. Yes, easing into the green smoothies is the key!
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We make kale and fruit smoothies several times a week, but I love this recipe because I could offer it as a DESSERT! I love when good stuff comes in a fun package, and this “shake” does exactly that!
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Tess Masters Reply:
January 17th, 2012 at 11:55 am
@Kim, LOL! Exactly! YUMMO!
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Oh, I am SO SO making this when the kids come home from school today. i have loads of spinach growing right now and they will think I went crazy by giving them a chocolate shake for a snack. LOL I love this recipe! Great great idea, Tess!
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Tess Masters Reply:
January 17th, 2012 at 11:55 am
@Kim Maes, LOL! I love it! Can’t wait to hear what they think!
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I’m a huge advocate of green smoothies–and this one sounds particularly yummy! No kids here (except the hubby), but who cares?
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Tess Masters Reply:
January 17th, 2012 at 11:56 am
@Ricki, LOL! We are all kids aren’t we?
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I LOVE you ladies and am so thrilled to be a part of this wonderful journey with you.
This smoothie is healthy and delicious – so happy to be sharing it with you!
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Do you think almond milk would work here as well?
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Tess Masters Reply:
January 19th, 2012 at 1:09 am
@katrina, This smoothie is DELICIOUS with almond milk. You can just put in 1/2 cup raw almonds and 2 cups milk. I was just trying to make this recipe nut free. But it tastes delicious with lots of different vegan milks.
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hello Tess.. I don’t have any unsweetened rice milk on hand, but do have organic coconut milk, this recipe looks too yummy to wait, I make alot of smoothies using the organic coconut milk. One of my favorite green smoothies is made with spinach, frozen pineapple, banana, greek yogurt and green tea. It kick starts my day.
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Tess Masters Reply:
January 19th, 2012 at 1:10 am
@dee m, Dee, your blend sounds DELICIOUS! I will give it a go with some soy yoghurt! Thankyou! Coconut milk tastes delicious in this smoothie!
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Green smoothies are something I know I should do but rarely ever make. This one looks really tasty, though, and an easy sell for my family. Thanks!
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Tess Masters Reply:
January 19th, 2012 at 1:11 am
@Kathryn, Yes! This one is a fantastic way to ease everyone into the idea of going green!
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I have to try someone’s recipe who’s name is the same as mine!! I hadn’t thought of dates…good idea!
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Tess Masters Reply:
January 19th, 2012 at 1:11 am
@Tessa Domestic Diva, LOL! I love it! Great to be connected Tess!
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I LOVE green smoothies! This one sounds so delicious – I have to try the dates to make it a little sweeter. I love the creaminess that bananas give to smoothies, but find that sometimes they’re a bit too sweet for me. To give my smoothies that amazing, frothy, deliciousness, I use avocados!! They’re the best – add healthy fats and oils and makes the smoothie even more green! Yum, thanks for sharing
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Tess Masters Reply:
January 19th, 2012 at 1:12 am
@Alyssa, Hey Alyssa. Avocados are my favourite way to thicken and cream up smoothies too. I was just trying to replicate a traditional chocolate shake for green smoothie newbies and bananas are needed for the sweetness and overall flavour. But, I agree. I actually don’t eat a lot of fruit because I follow an alkaline diet. So it is 3 avos a day for me! LOL!
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My 2 and 4 year olds just devoured this! I am in shock! My big one never eats anything healthy so I’m always looking to sneak! More sneaky recipes please!!! This was so easy, too!
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Amy Green Reply:
January 20th, 2012 at 12:49 pm
@Marissa, So glad to hear that, Marissa! I’ve made a couple variations of this shake and I love it, too.
Hugs,
Amy
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Tess Masters Reply:
January 25th, 2012 at 2:12 pm
@Marissa, So glad you enjoyed this shake! I have another one that ROCKED my world this week. A sweet kale shake that tastes exactly like pistachio ice cream! I was FLOODED with emails from readers and lots of parents who said their kids DEVOURED it. Give it a try.
http://healthyblenderrecipes.com/recipes/raw_vegan_creamy_pistachio_ice_cream_kale_shake/
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Marissa Reply:
January 25th, 2012 at 8:53 pm
OOOOOOH!! Totally can’t wait to try it! Keep them coming!!
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Tess Masters Reply:
January 26th, 2012 at 3:37 pm
@Marissa, I look forward to hearing what you think!
I’ve had dates in smoothies (and many other things) just for the same reason – to mask some of the obvious nutritional flavors. I love the use of cacao here.. mmm.. bet this taste really chocolately in a good way.
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Tess Masters Reply:
January 25th, 2012 at 2:13 pm
@Raj @ Flip Cookbook, It DOES! Can’t wait to hear what you think
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Thank you, thank you, thank you! I’m going to go try this out on my greenophobic grandmother next week, it looks absolutely perfect for the purpose.
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Tess Masters Reply:
February 11th, 2013 at 8:17 pm
@Elina, Great! I hope it was a hit!
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What can I use to substitute the banana to still give it a good taste? As one of my boys is allergic to them.
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Tess Masters Reply:
February 11th, 2013 at 8:17 pm
@Vanessa, You can use raw coconut meat or tofu. You will just need to add a lot more sweetener to get the flavour right. Enjoy
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Tess Masters Reply:
February 11th, 2013 at 8:18 pm
@Boyd Valeriani, Thankyou so much for this lovely comment. I am so pleased this was so helpful for you.
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Hi my name is Johnny and i like your blog. It is very nice. The design is jus stunning.
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Tess Masters Reply:
February 11th, 2013 at 8:18 pm
@klikcko, Thankyou. I really appreciate the kind words of support.
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Hi Tess
Last week my doctor told me to go on a Gulten Free diet. My reply to him was “a what!”
When he explained himself, I found myself not knowing how to go about what I was charged to do. So I hit the web. I would just like to thank you and those who work with you for helping me create meals and snacks that will not only satisfy my taste buds but also my doctor.
My Gluten Free journey is just beginning and all I could think of were the foods I couldn’t have, but thanks to this site and one other I’ve found I’m feeling a little better about my task. Especially now since I’ve been intoduced to your sneaky green shake, just beautiful!!
Thanks Tess looking forward to learning and tasting more.
Sheila
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Tess Masters Reply:
February 11th, 2013 at 8:19 pm
@Sheila, Thanks for your lovely comment Sheila. I really appreciate it. I hope your gluten free journey is getting tastier and tastier, easier, and more fun! We are absolutely here to help and support you. Great to be connected
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