Gluten Free Vegan Living

Nothing satisfies my hunger on a hot day than a good smoothie.  Yesterday, we featured a Vegan Sugar Cookies Shake.  It seemed fitting to share this healthy Vegan Chocolate Mint Smoothie today!

Mint Chocolate Chip Smoothie

Gluten-free + Vegan

1 cup organic unsweetened vanilla almond milk (or other non-dairy milk of your choice)
1 frozen organic banana (if it isn’t frozen, just add a bit more ice in at the end)
2 cups tightly packed organic baby spinach
1/3 cup tightly packed fresh mint leaves
1 tablespoon ground chia seeds (optional)
2-3 drops of alcohol-free liquid stevia (or any other sweetener of your choice like maple syrup or maple sugar, medjool dates, honey, etc)
1/4 – 1/3 cup dairy-free, gluten-free mini chocolate chips
small handful of ice cubes

Add all of the ingredients except the chocolate chips and the ice to your blender and blend until very smooth and creamy, blend for about 3 minutes. Then add in the ice and blend until there are no large chunks, then add the chocolate chips and give it a few pulses to break them up a bit. Serve immediately. Toss a few chocolate chips or some chocolate shavings on top with a sprig of fresh mint, if you wish.

READ FULL POST

I found it very interesting that the author has 2 full cups of baby spinach in this smoothie.  That is LOTS of spinach!!  But then, spinach is good for you and with the other flavors — chocolate and mint — I assume you do not taste the spinach!

Of course, I would use coconut milk.  And I use Chia seeds in my smoothies, as well, for extra nutrition.

Enjoy!!

Ran across this recipe and couldn’t resist!  Actually, I figured it would be full or sugar — and then it would violate my unwritten rules to post it!!  (what good is Gluten Free Vegan recipes if they are full of other unhealthy ingredients?).

To my surprise, this Vegan Sugar Cookie shake recipe sounds wonderful.  And the author, Chef Amber Shea of Almost Vegan, lists several different variations –including a nut free option!

Sugar Cookie Shake

1 small or ½ large banana, peeled and frozen
1 cup filtered water
1 oz. (scant ¼ cup) raw macadamia nuts
1 scoop vanilla-flavored nondairy protein powder (like Sunwarrior)
½ teaspoon maca powder (optional, but awesome)
¼ teaspoon vanilla extract
Pinch of sea salt
Stevia, if needed

Combine all ingredients in a high-speed blender and blend until completely smooth. Taste for sweetness and add some stevia if desired. Serve immediately.

READ FULL POST — including variations!

If you are looking for similar recipes from Chef Amber Shea, she has a cookbook called, Practically Raw.  Check it out here: