Cocoa Beet Smoothie and Chocolate Chia Seed Pudding

Not only is the color of this smoothie gorgeous, but the creamy and silky texture along with the perfect sweetness factor makes it a tall glass of nutrient dense goodness. When I made this smoothie, I was craving something indulgent and rich, but didn't want something that would make me feel heavy and bloated. All of the fruits and veggies in this recipe, along with the healthy fats and protein from natural sources like the chia and hemp seeds means you will not feel that afternoon sugar crash.

Cocoa Beet Smoothie

1 frozen banana

1/2 cooked beet (without skin)

1 cup cold water or milk of choice

1 tsp honey

1 tbsp almond butter

1/4 tsp tumeric

1/4 tsp black pepper

Handful of spinach (optional)

1 tbsp hemp seeds (optional)

3-4 ice cubes

Blend all ingredients in a blender until thick and creamy, place in the freezer to firm up.

Chocolate Chia Seed Pudding

3 tbsp chia seeds

1/2 banana

1 cup dairy free milk or water

1 tbsp honey

1 tsp vanilla

1 tbsp cocoa powder

Blend all ingredients in a blender until smooth, but the chia seeds are still whole pieces. Set in the fridge for 30 minutes until the pudding develops a thicker texture.

Once the smoothie and chia seed pudding are ready, pour the smoothie into a glass and then top with the pudding. Add some chocolate chips, sliced strawberries, your favorite granola, or an Emmy's chocolate cookie and enjoy this dreamy bowl.

THE BENEFITS OF THIS SMOOTHIE

For those of you asking, this smoothie has so many amazing benefits for your body and immune system.

Beets have so many amazing health benefits! They have anti inflammatory properties that help fight off bloat, help with digestion, and lower your blood pressure. They contain a considerable amount of protein and fiber as well.

Honey is a healing powerhouse because it's a great complex carb, contains natural sugars, and is very rich in anti inflammatory antioxidants.

Tumeric is a spice used in a lot of Indian dishes because of it's unique taste, however it also provides loads of inflammation fighting benefits and is a natural detoxifier. Because of its ability to lower cholesterol, it's typically used in sauces that pair well with meats and rice. I love adding it to my coffee in the morning, but fun fact, it doesn't activate in the body unless it's paired with black pepper, which is why I included that in this smoothie as well.

Almond Butter is a great healthy fat and when consumed in moderate amounts, almonds provide the perfect amount of vitamins, minerals, and protein as well. They help lower cholesterol and manage blood sugar because of their fair amounts of magnesium, copper, Vitamin K, and zinc.

Spinach is a mega green! Any dark leafy green will do as well, sometimes I add kale but that can be a lot of roughage on my stomach at times. Leafy greens provide so many nutrients, help clean out the digestive system, and sneakily provide a lot of calcium, which many people are deficient in. We can blame all of the dairy free milks for that one.

I hope you enjoy this smoothie as much as I do!