For a couple weeks there, I was eating eggs in some form or fashion every morning for breakfast. Now for some reason or another, the sound of eggs in the morning isn’t jiving with me…I’ve been craving sweeter dishes instead of savory.

With the last several weeks before our yogurt store opens, I’ve been grabbing meals on the go while I am running errands, making phone calls and meeting with contractors. At night, things slow down where I have more time to cook (for now) but there’s always stuff to do during the day so I am staying busy! 🙂

That being said, smoothies have been one of my favorite quick breakfasts the past week, especially this decadent tasting chocolate smoothie with creamy almond butter. Cacao is a superfood with antioxidants so you can still get your chocolate fix in the morning 🙂 Almond butter is a good dose of healthy fats and will help keep you full longer while lending a slight sweetness to the drink. Two good reasons to whip this one up for breakfast or a snack!

Almond Cacao Protein Smoothie 

Ingredients

1 to 1 1/2 cups unsweetened vanilla or plain almond milk* (coconut, rice, hemp or soy are all good too)
1 scoop of vanilla or chocolate protein powder of choice** (I used Jay Robb’s egg white, but for vegan use rice/hemp/or soy)
1 Tbsp raw cacao powder (cocoa powder can also be used OR carob powder for caffeine free)
1 -2  Tbsp creamy or crunchy almond butter
pinch of sea salt, optional but intensifies the chocolate flavor
1/8 – 1/4 tsp almond extract, optional but gives you that almond flavor
handful of baby spinach (you can’t taste this, just adds more nutrition)

Optional: for a creamier smoothie, add 1/2 of a banana or an avocado

Directions

1. Add all ingredients to a blender and mix until well combined. Pour into a glass and enjoy!

*Use 1 cup of non dairy milk for a thicker shake, 1 1/2 for a thinner consistency (I like mine on the thick side but accidentally added too much milk, but it was still delicious!)

**The protein powder I use is lightly sweetened with stevia. If yours is unsweetened, feel free to add agave or honey to taste or a pinch of stevia OR sweeten with one medjool date or 1/2 of a banana