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    Home » Recipes » Valentines Day

    Chocolate Blueberry Smoothie (high protein)

    Published: Jan 12, 2015 · Modified: Mar 17, 2022 by Sally Cameron · This post may contain affiliate links · 2 Comments

    294 shares
    Jump to Recipe Print Recipe

    Here's a smoothie to fuel your brain and start your day right. This is brain food! Making good decisions requires feeding your brain well. Your brain is the most expensive real estate in your body, requiring the most resources. Although only 2% of your body weight, your brain uses 20% - 30% of the calories you consume, so feed it right with this chocolate blueberry smoothie.

    A chocolate blueberry smoothie in a glass
    A chocolate blueberry smoothie in a glass

    I got to know famous brain doctor Dr. Daniel Amen while working with The Daniel Plan team. Dr. Amen is a New York Times best-selling author and co-creator of The Daniel Plan. He is also the founder of Amen Clinics, along with his wife Tana.

    Thousands of people have benefited from their fantastic work, including me. "Eating right is critical to thinking right", says Dr. Amen.  The better the fuel, the better we are able to make smart decisions. And so I created this chocolate blueberry smoothie recipe.

    Jump to:
    • Why Smoothies?
    • Tools
    • Smoothie Ingredients
    • Sweetener Options
    • Instructions
    • Health Benefits
    • More Smoothie Recipes
    • For More Reading
    • 📖 Recipe
    • 💬 Comments

    Why Smoothies?

    Because they are super easy to make and almost infinitely variable for taste and nutrition needs. Plus the ingredients are easy to keep on hand. Milk of choice can be made easily and better than boxed version with additives, and it is usually more economical to make your own (and tastes better).

    Fruit can either be fresh or frozen, spinach leaves keep for awhile in the fridge (and can be used for salads), the rest is non-perishable pantry items.

    For an easy recipe for homemade almond milk read here. Just soak raw almonds overnight and puree. I do not strain mine. For cashew milk, read here.

    homemade cashew milk.
    Homemade almond milk.

    Tools

    All you need is a blender.

    Smoothie Ingredients

    Here's the brain healthy foods that go into this smoothie and their health benefits, below. Put ingredients into a blend and puree into a delicious brain-boosting smoothie.

    • Almond milk (or milk of choice)
    • Frozen blueberries (or fresh)
    • Fresh spinach leaves
    • Unsweetened cocoa powder
    • Small banana
    • Ground cinnamon
    • Protein powder of choice
    • Sweetener of choice

    For help choosing a good protein powder, read this article.

    Fresh blueberries in a sieve.
    Fresh blueberries in a sieve from washing.

    Sweetener Options

    To sweeten up your smoothies a bit, try berry stevia drops or this keto monk fruit-based sugar-free syrup. A little honey works too.

    Instructions

    Smoothies are so easy! Just place all of the ingredients into the blender and blend until smooth. If it gets too thick, add a little water.

    Beautiful Brain Smoothie
    Ingredients for a blueberry smoothie in a blender.

    Health Benefits

    • Berries - Studies show that blueberries in particular help protect the brain from oxidative stress and may reduce the effects of age-related diseases such as Alzheimer's disease or dementia. Berries are antioxidant powerhouses.
    • Bananas - Are full of vitamins, minerals and amino acids that play a supporting a role in keeping brains functioning at optimal levels. They also contain high levels of tryptophan, which converts into serotonin. Bananas are happy mood food.
    • Cocoa powder - Be sure to buy unsweetened. It's full of beneficial plant compounds called flavinoids, which may help lower blood pressure, support healthy cholesterol, improve regulation of blood sugar and brain function (plus iron and magnesium).
    • Spinach - Leafy greens, supporting brain health, skin, hair, bones, iron, vitamins and minerals.
    • Cinnamon - Long known for its healing properties, preserves brain function, stabilizes blood sugar, with powerful immune-boosting compounds.
    Blueberry Brain Smoothie | AFoodCentricLife.com

    More Smoothie Recipes

    • Healthy pumpkin pie smoothie
    • Green tea and avocado smoothie
    • Spiced coconut mango smoothie
    • Chocolate maca energy smoothie

    Find more recipes and inspiration on the smoothie and juices page.

    For More Reading

    • Ten Ways to Conquer Your Cravings (for a healthy brain), by Dr. Daniel Amen
    • For another terrific chocolate smoothie try this chocolate maca energy smoothie.

    📖 Recipe

    Chocolate Blueberry Brainfood Smoothie

    Sally Cameron
    A healthy brain requires healthy fuel. Here’s a smoothie that’s good for our brains. Start the day right with this smoothie and you just might think smarter and make better decisions.
    5 from 1 vote
    Print Recipe Pin Recipe
    Prep Time 5 mins
    Total Time 5 mins
    Course Breakfast
    Cuisine American
    Servings 1
    Calories 238 kcal

    Equipment

    • blender

    Ingredients
      

    • 10 ounces almond milk
    • ¾ cup blueberries or blackberries
    • 1 big handful baby spinach leaves
    • 2 teaspoons unsweetened cocoa powder
    • 1 teaspoon cinnamon
    • ½ banana
    • 2 scoops protein powder of choice about 20 grams protein

    Instructions
     

    • Place everything in a blender and blend until smooth. Drink immediately.

    Notes

    Check out the easy recipe for homemade almond milk on this site. Once you make homemade, you will never buy it again. 

    Nutrition

    Calories: 238kcalCarbohydrates: 49gProtein: 24gFat: 5gSaturated Fat: 1gPolyunsaturated Fat: 2gMonounsaturated Fat: 2gSodium: 436mgPotassium: 863mgFiber: 10gSugar: 26gVitamin A: 5458IUVitamin C: 37mgCalcium: 433mgIron: 3mg
    Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!
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    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Rebecca @ best immersion blender says

      January 02, 2017 at 6:29 pm

      Yummy! The Berry Smoothie looks incredible, such beautiful imagery and easy to make recipes, thank you for sharing!

      Reply
    2. Tessa Lefler says

      February 17, 2015 at 11:43 pm

      Great Info!!

      Reply

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    chef sally cameron | afoodcentriclifecom.bigscoots-staging.com

    Welcome! I'm Sally, a classically trained chef (but you don't have to be!). My passion is cooking fresh healthy food and sharing it with others.

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