Caffeine is a powerful pre-workout tool. Used in moderation, a cup of coffee, or better yet, a chocolatey coffee smoothie, may increase the duration of your workout.
Tip
If you’re sensitive to caffeine, use herbal coffee substitute or loose-leaf Earl Grey tea instead of coffee.
Spiced Cocoa, Coffee, and Chia Smoothie
Ingredients
- 1/2 cup (125 mL) unsweetened plain almond milk, plus more to thin
- 1 banana, peeled, halved and frozen
- 2 tsp (10 mL) chia seeds
- 2 Tbsp (30 mL) chocolate protein powder or natural peanut butter
- 1 Tbsp (15 mL) cocoa powder
- 1 Tbsp (15 mL) honey or maple syrup
- 1 tsp (5 mL) ground coffee beans
- 1/4 tsp (1 mL) ground cinnamon
- 1/4 tsp (1 mL) ground cardamom
- 1/8 tsp (0.5 mL) ground dried ginger
- 2 ice cubes
- 1/2 tsp (2 mL) whole coffee beans (optional)
Nutrition
Per serving:
- calories484
- protein14g
- fat25g
- saturated fat4g
- trans fat0g
- carbohydrates63g
- sugars35g
- fibre14g
- sodium192mg
Directions
01
Add all ingredients except whole coffee beans in order listed to high-speed blender. Blend until smooth, thinning with additional almond milk as needed. Pour smoothie into glass and garnish with whole coffee beans, if using. Serve.
Allison Day, RHN, is a nutritionist, blogger, and cookbook author. Check out her cookbooks, Whole Bowls and Purely Pumpkin (Skyhorse Publishing, 2016).
