AB&J Chocolate Chip Smoothie

serves 1

Sometimes a craving fix requires extensive trial and error until the right healthy one is discovered. This is a manifestation of my love for almond butter jelly sandwiches, with a few twists:

• 3 handfuls baby spinach
• 1 cup raw organic young coconut water
• 2 tbsp. raw almond butter
• 1 frozen banana (replace with peeled frozen zucchini+pinch of salt, if you are following a strict yeast-conscious eating plan)
• 1 cup ice
• 1 dropperfull vanilla stevia
• 1/4 cup raw cacao beans or nibs (optional)
• 1/4 cup raw unsulfured dried cherries (optional; use blueberries for a more yeast-conscious treat) 

I blended the 1st 3 ingredients, then then next 3, and added the cacao and cherries on the 3rd round.

It’s been really warm in NY, and this decadent frozen treat was much appreciated after a 45 minute infrared sauna session! In the context of the blended salad, the dried fruit and banana are less yeast feeding than on their own, so this is the lesser evil of “cheats”, especially when you are considering the source inspiration ;) 

I have to thank my darling friend, Deva, for the wonderful tip on using cacao nibs for smoothies to retain their color! She was the one that led me down this rabbit hole, and I couldn’t be more thankful!  xoxo