Black Forest Antioxidant Smoothie

---

I love a good black forest shake, but haven’t had one in a long time!  This Black Forest Antioxidant Smoothie captures the great flavors of the classic milkshake, but without the dairy and extra sugar to go with them!  With the spinach, cherries, almonds, and cocoa powder it is jam packed with antioxidants and other healthy nutrients!  The nuts add healthy fat and protein, which makes the smoothie a complete meal.

I would recommend this cherry chocolate smoothie for a breakfast shake, dessert, or a pre/post-exercise snack. Sometimes I add coconut cream to make it taste even more like a milk shake!  Yum!

I buy my frozen cherries at Sprouts, but if you have a hard time finding them, you can substitute raspberries or mixed berries.  It’ll still be really yummy and full of antioxidants!  The amounts given are approximate.

---

Before we get to the recipe for the Black Forest Antioxidant Smoothie I want to invite you to join with others who are making healthy changes.  I’d love to walk alongside you in your journey towards wholeness and health! Jesus said, “I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full!”  Freedom from food addictions is part of having a truly full life.  

Serves 1-2

• 1/4 Cup Raw Almonds
• 1 Tbsp Flax Seeds
• 3/4 Cup Almond Milk
• 1 Tsp Vanilla
• 1 Cup Frozen Cherries
• 1-2 Tbsp Unsweetened cocoa powder
• 3 Dates
• 1 Cup Organic Baby Spinach
• 2 Tbsp Coconut Cream (optional)

Place all ingredients in a blender and blend until smooth.  Enjoy!

I’ve given you the links for a Nutribullet, because I have heard that it does a great job of making smoothies actually smooth.  I have the Ninja Mega Kitchen System, and unfortunately the blender leaves things chunky.  The thing I like about the Ninja is that it comes in a complete kitchen set, so I just leave the base out on the counter, and change the attachment to a blender, single serve smoothie cup, or food processor, as needed.  The single serve smoothie cup does make things really smooth…but I’m serving lots of people here, and would rather make smoothies in the large blender!  Choose what works best for you!