Mint chocolate chip is my FAVOURITE ice cream flavour – I order it 100% of the time. And now I can have it anytime I want with this super healthy no-compromise Mint Chocolate Chip Smoothie!
Smoothies are an absolute staple in our house, and the kids exclusively ask for green smoothies – mom win! Sneaking greens into a kid’s diet (or adult’s for that matter) is no small feat. Check out my Green Smoothie (that the kids will love) here [1] if you are wanting to get the greens into your kids to start the day.
This smoothie gets its nutrients from spinach, bananas, and avocado but funny enough, you can’t taste any of these in the smoothie! Spinach is a gift from Mother Nature (aka “superfood”) providing us with iron, calcium, fibre and a long list of vitamins. The avocado adds a healthy fat to keep you satisfied, and the banana is a great source of potassium!
You can add more spinach if you so desire for an extra punch of nutrients but we loved the colour and subtle taste with this amount! Mind you, as a dietitian I’ll never turn up my nose at more spinach. If you want to make this vegan you can substitute dairy free chocolate chips in or cacao nibs. Cacao nibs do not undergo the same processing as chocolate, which helps preserve their antioxidants. The same goes for raw cacao vs cocoa powder in case you were ever wondering.
You can turn this Mint Chocolate Chip Smoothie into even more of a treat by topping it with coconut whip cream and chocolate shavings, just sayin’. My blender will be working over-time for this treat ALLLL summer long!
If you’re looking for a healthier twist on some other cold summer treats, I recommend checking out this Avocado Lime Nice Cream [2], or these Apricot Creamsicles [3]! Or if chocolate is more up your alley give this Skinny Frosty [4] a whirl!
Mint Chocolate Chip Smoothie
This Mint Chocolate Chip Smoothie gets its green colour naturally from spinach and is dairy free - but tastes sooo decadent! It's my favourite! Be sure to use dairy free chocolate chips if you want to make it vegan.
Ingredients
- 2 frozen peeled bananas
- 1/2 avocado
- 2 cups unsweetened almond milk
- 1/4 teaspoon peppermint extract OR 1/4 cup packed fresh mint leaves
- 1/2 cup fresh spinach (tightly packed)
- 1 cup ice
- 2 tablespoon chocolate chips* or cacao nibs (plus extra for garnish)
- 1/2 cup coconut whip (optional)
Instructions
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In a high speed blender, add all ingredients except for the chocolate chips. Blend on high for approximately 45 seconds or until thoroughly blended. Add in chocolate chips and pulse until finely chopped throughout smoothie.
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Pour into 2 glasses and top with coconut whip and chocolate chips. Serve immediately.
Recipe Notes
*use dairy free chocolate chips to make it vegan