This low-calorie Chocolate Peppermint Smoothie squashes chocolate cravings, flushes bloat, uses all wholesome ingredients and has no added sugar. It’s a throwback to one of our favorite childhood candies…
Growing up in a healthy household, Halloween was the one time of year where we actually had candy in the house—and we were allowed to have one piece for dessert each night, until we ran out. We were certain to make the most of our Halloween candy since we wouldn’t be so lucky for another year—so after we’d go trick-or-treating, we’d have candy trading sessions with our friends where we’d trade off least favorite candy for ones that included chocolate. Turns out that one of our all -time favorite candies back then, is surprisingly one that as registered dietitians, we consider a better option—peppermint patties! The calories and fat are fairly low compared to most candies and mint is refreshing and satisfying and chocolate hits the spot. And we’ve found that any recipe that includes either of these ingredients is very satisfying—like our Oreo No-Bake Mint Balls, Homemade Skinny Strawberry Mint Ice Cream and our Thin Mint Dip and now this hit!
This Chocolate Peppermint Smoothie is refreshing and satisfies chocolate cravings all while flushing bloat! The banana and avocado not only make this smoothie rich and creamy, they also provide a good source of potassium.
How do potassium and fiber help decrease bloat?
Potassium flushes excess water the body is holding on to in order to dilute large amounts of sodium. When you eat a lot of salt, like after a Chinese food dinner, your body recognizes the large amount of salt and likes salt to be at a specific concentration in the body, so it holds on to water to try to dilute the salt. You feel heavy, your rings are tight and you feel bloated and for most people, they say they can see it and the higher number on the scale shows it.
The fiber in this smoothie decreases bloat by helping to keep you regular, preventing waste from staying in your digestive tract, so by pushing the food along in your colon and out of your body, it helps alleviate bloating. If you increase fiber too quickly, it can actually get backed up in the colon and make you constipated. However, if you start gradually or with this smoothie, which also helps to hydrate you, that combination will help to keep you regular.
And avocado is one of the better sources of glutathione which is key in detoxification in the small intestine and in boosting the health of the digestive system. So when you want a tasty treat that will squash cravings and beat the bloat too, blend up this waistline-friendly drink!
What does the refreshing mint do for your body?
Mint eases digestion and helps settles the stomach. Less havoc in the belly allows it to calm, helping to prevent bloat. We add mint to everything! Hello Lemon Mint Detox Drink ! Mint’s antioxidant rosmarinic acid, has anti-inflammatory properties to ease damage inside your body to help if you’ve had one too many cocktails or desserts!
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While this smoothie is only 125 calories and makes a great healthy dessert, afternoon boost, you can also have it for breakfast with two hard boiled eggs for the perfect jump start to your day!
Chocolate Peppermint Smoothie
This Chocolate Peppermint Smoothie is a perfect dessert or afternoon pick-me-up when you’re craving something sweet and refreshing that won’t leave you feeling drowsy. We recommend using raw cacao powder which is higher in antioxidants and healthier because it hasn’t been processed and retains the healthy benefits– and it has a slightly stronger chocolate flavor, but feel free to use cocoa powder, if you don’t have raw cacao powder.
Makes 2 servings
Ingredients
1 cup plain unsweetened almond milk
1 very ripe medium banana,* sliced and frozen
1/4 avocado
1 1/2 cup ice cubes
1 tsp. vanilla extract
2 Tbs. raw cacao or cocoa powder
1/4 tsp. peppermint extract or a small handful of fresh mint leaves
Directions:
Blend all ingredients in a blender until smooth and creamy. Enjoy!
*If your banana isn’t that ripe, and you’d like a sweeter smoothie, you can add a little stevia or honey to taste. Note that honey will add some calories to the nutrition facts below.
Nutrition Facts: 125 Calories, 4 g Fat, 0 g Saturated Fat, 0 mg Cholesterol, 83 mg Sodium, 22 g Carbohydrate, 5 g Fiber, 11 g Sugar, 2 g Protein
If you’re looking for more support, we would love for you to apply to our Transformation Jumpstart program! It is a super easy process to ensure that we can support you to the best of our abilities. You can apply here.
- 1 cup plain unsweetened almond milk
- 1 very ripe medium banana,* sliced and frozen
- ¼ avocado
- 1½ cup ice cubes
- 1 tsp. vanilla extract
- 2 Tbs. cacao or cocoa powder
- ¼ tsp. peppermint extract or a small handful of fresh mint leaves
- Blend all ingredients in a blender until smooth and creamy. Enjoy!
- *If your banana isn't that ripe, and you’d like a sweeter smoothie, you can add a little stevia or honey to taste. Note that honey will add some calories to the nutrition facts below.
