Low-Calorie, High-Protein Blueberry Cocoa Smoothie Recipe
Creamy Blueberry Cocoa Smoothie. High-protein without protein powder! Made with berries, cocoa, and seeds for an easy breakfast or snack.
Servings: 1 serving
Calories: 381kcal
Equipment
- Blender
Ingredients
- 1 ½ tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder (see notes)
- 1 cup frozen blueberries (see notes)
- ½ cup baby bok choy or kale, or collar greens, washed and chopped
- 1 Medjool date pitted
- 2 tablespoons raw pumpkin seeds
- ½ cup silken tofu optional (see note)
- 1 tablespoon ground flaxseed or flaxseed meal
- ½ teaspoon vanilla extract
- ¼ teaspoon Ceylon cinnamon
- Cold water or nondairy milk, as needed
- 2 ice cubes
Instructions
- Prepare the date: Remove the pit. If firm, soak in hot water for 10 minutes, then drain.
- Add to the blender: Start with ¼ cup cold water or unsweetened nondairy milk. Add the silken tofu—or substitute plain, unsweetened yogurt—followed by the remaining ingredients, adding the frozen blueberries last.
- Blend until creamy: Blend thoroughly until the seeds, date, and greens are smooth. Add more liquid a little at a time as needed.
- Add ice: For a frostier smoothie, add 2 to 4 ice cubes and blend again. Serve immediately.
Notes
Cocoa powder: Use natural unsweetened cocoa, not Dutch processed, to retain more flavanols. Choose a brand that shares independent testing for cadmium, lead, and flavanol content, within your budget. (See tested choices here, under 'Healthy Chocolate.'
Silken tofu: Substitute ½ cup plain, unsweetened yogurt.
Banana option: Feel free to use banana instead of silken tofu if you prefer. I chose silken tofu for its creamy texture and added protein, and because banana’s polyphenol oxidase enzyme can reduce the availability of certain cocoa flavanols.
Liquid: Start with ½ cup cold water or unsweetened nondairy milk, adding more as needed. Soy milk adds extra protein.
Ice: Blend until smooth, then add 2–4 ice cubes and blend again for a frostier smoothie.
Blueberries: Choose organic if available and within your budget. Regular organic frozen blueberries work well if you can’t find organic wild berries, but conventional blueberries are also a nutritious, budget-friendly option.
Nutrition
Calories: 381kcal | Carbohydrates: 55g | Protein: 18g | Fat: 14g | Saturated Fat: 3g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 4g | Monounsaturated Fat: 1g | Sodium: 88mg | Potassium: 678mg | Fiber: 15g | Sugar: 34g | Calcium: 219mg | Iron: 5mg
