This article is all about a banana free smoothie recipe
Okay, so this is unexpected, but I’m turning into quite the banana free smoothie recipe expert. A few months ago, I decided to switch up my diet, feeling like a new challenge and some food variety could do me good. It consisted of mostly whole, organic food: locally sourced meat, low sugar fruits, vegetables, etc. So yea, extremely healthy. I’m back to my standard, intuitive diet, but this experience made me realize how freaking good it feels to reduce sugar. I felt more clarity of thought; my energy levels were stable and robust. This diet also had me eliminate caffeine, grains, and dairy, so removing those could have contributed too. But I would say the one thing I’ve kept consistent even afterwards is keeping my sugar down to the bare minimum, including natural sugar from fruit. Don’t get me wrong- I still eat bananas, pineapples, mangos- all the good stuff. I just don’t eat them in excess like I used to. I used to need something sweet after anything I ate. I no longer have that craving! It’s pretty incredible, actually.
To be honest with you, I’m not going to get into the science of how sugar affects the body, #1 because I’m not a doctor or scientist and #2, I’m not in any way telling you that sugar is 100% bad and that consuming it is detrimental. I’m just a girl experimenting with food and lifestyle in order to continue to level up and see how good I can feel. From my anecdotal evidence, reducing sugar has many positive side effects, including fewer sugar cravings (shocker), less lethargy and mood swings, and fewer digestive issues like stomach aches, gas, and bloating.
Smoothies should be nutrient powerhouses that can pack in a lot without feeling overwhelming. They’re easy to make, easy to drink, and easy for your body to digest. As I have mine first thing in the morning, I’m not looking to spike my glycemic index for a stressful sort of wake-up call. I like to ease into the morning and get that gradual, balanced energy as I start my day. Because of this, I’ve been reducing sugar in my morning smoothie, where it’s pretty easy to go overboard on tropical fruits and sugary syrups such as maple syrup, agave, and honey.
Suggested Read: Butterfly Smoothie Recipe
But- this posed a challenge as I used frozen bananas as my go-to smoothie base for years and years. At first, I was reluctant to the challenge altogether and thought there weren’t any worthy alternatives. What’s better than a creamy smooth shake with no weird aftertaste or graininess?! Do real alternatives even exist?
I’m just beginning to experiment with low-sugar smoothies, but the ones I’ve concocted so far have been divine. This one is rich, chocolatey, and a bit nutty. This smoothie is high in healthy fats and Omega-3 fatty acids so it’s perfect if you want to increase your Omega-3s or are trying to gain some healthy weight. If you’re not, you can strip back a few fatty ingredients like flax oil and nut butter and you’ll have a skinny version. If that sounds good to you, then have at it and enjoy it!
Chocolate Coco Cherry Banana Free Smoothie Recipe
- 1 Pitaya coconut smoothie pack
- 1/4 cup frozen sweet cherries
- 1/4 cup frozen blueberries
- 1/4 cup frozen raspberries
- 1/4 cup frozen avocado (optional)
- 1/4 cup of almond milk, macadamia nut milk, or nut milk of choice
- 1/4 cup coconut milk from a can
- 2 1/2 tbsp raw cacao powder
- 1 tbsp unsweetened chocolate chips (I use Trader Joe’s Organic Completely Cacao Chips Unsweetened Chocolate)
- 1 tbsp raw almond or pecan butter
- 1 tbsp of flax seed oil
- 2 scoops of Vital Proteins Collagen or collagen powder of choice (optional)
I make many different versions of this banana free smoothie recipe but start here. These ingredients go so well together it’s hard to mess up. You can become your own little culinary alchemist by adjusting the measurements or adding in your own flavors, oils, potions, and powders.
The coconut base gives it that creamy, thick texture we all love with subtle flavors of coconut. It has the chocolate-covered berries kind of flavor going for it, reminding me a lot of when I’d make chocolate-covered strawberries for friends’ birthdays. It’s heavenly. I’d like to think of this new exploration less of removing anything from my diet and more as introducing new foods into it. Coconut is high in healthy Omega 3 fatty acids and loads of essential vitamins and nutrients. This banana free smoothie recipe is going to be in your top 3 rotations and you won’t even miss your beloved bananas!
Leave a Reply