Chocolate Almond Butter Berry Smoothie (No Banana)

This luscious chocolate almond butter berry smoothie tastes like dessert!

What did we all do before the blender??

I didn't grow up on smoothies, but rather discovered them around the same time I began working out.

After high school, my exercise level dropped down to nearly non-existent, and I inevitably put on about 15 pounds. In an effort to correct my situation, I joined an all-women's gym (even then, I hated the 'meat market' environment of certain fitness centers) and revamped my diet.

Part of my diet makeover included smoothies!...well, it would be more accurate to say 'protein shakes', since what I made was basically a combination of milk, a banana, and an artificially sweetened protein powder.

As my life, fitness, and nutrition evolved, I began experimenting with other fruits, nut butters, and even vegetables.

Smoothies and shakes have become a staple in my life and are something I look forward to, so I'm always trying out new recipes.

A few of my favorite smoothie ingredients include:

1. Avocado - Good fat, energy, gives the smoothie richness and thickness; good replacement for banana
2. Vanilla - I like using this vanilla powder to avoid the alcohol in extracts; adds sugar-free sweetness and delicious flavor
3. Honey - My favorite sweetener
4. Stevia - Nice to use in combination with honey to bump up the sweetness without adding carbs or contributing to candida
5. My Homemade Coconut Milk - Again, adds sweetness without sugar grams and the flavor goes well with many fruits as well as cocoa
6. Berries - Low sugar fruits that I love and that blend well with many other fruits and cocoa

Today's particular combination is one I've had on repeat for a while now. I change it up, depending on my mood, using a spoonful of avocado in place of the almond butter, strawberries, cherries, or a mixed berry blend, and sometimes half carob/half cocoa powder.

The recipe below is my number one favorite combination, but keep the above in mind if you'd like to experiment!

Notes:

This is a great one to 'hide' greens like spinach in.

I like to use my Homemade Coconut Milk in this recipe.

Some of the items I use in this recipe include: