I got an email from a new mom recently, asking if Mama Love Chocolate Protein tastes like brownie batter. Obviously, the answer is no.

But I quickly put together this recipe and shared it with her, because:

1. I wanted to make the sale, and
2. it’s such a delicious idea! (Yum!)

Before you let the calories and fat scare you away, let me walk you through all the healthy goodness this chocolatey treat offers!

Right after a workout is the perfect time to enjoy something sweet. That’s when your muscles are primed to take in and store glucose for fuel. And where does that glucose come from? It’s converted from the simple carbohydrates you eat, including sugar.

The sweetness in this recipe comes from dark chocolate chips (I always have a bag in the pantry), and it’s super creamy thanks to the avocado. Avocados are loaded with heart-healthy fats and fiber. But it’s the walnuts that really give this smoothie that brownie batter flavor IMO.

Walnuts are a superfood. They’re packed with vitamins, minerals, antioxidants, and neuro-protective polyphenols—research shows they can improve cognition and reduced your risk of dementia later in life (1, 2). And in recent studies, walnuts have been shown to promote a healthy gut microbiome (3)—that’s the collection of good bacteria living in your digestion system that scientists link to positive mental health, improved immune function, and more.

That’s plenty of healthy reasons for me to lick every bit of this brown batter smoothie from the blender! 

Ingredients 

• 1/3 cup Mama Love Chocolate Protein
• 1 ½ cups Vanilla Almond Milk, unsweetened
• 1/3 medium Avocado
• ¼ cup Walnuts
• 1 Tbsp. Dark Chocolate Chips

Instructions

Place all ingredients in a blender. Blend on high until smooth. Add ice cubes for a thicker smoothie, or more almond milk or water if you prefer a thinner one. Serve cold.

Nutrition Facts

Servings: 1

Calories 500 

*The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.

Sources:

1. Yin, Tian-Peng et al. “Tannins and Antioxidant Activities of the Walnut (Juglans regia) Pellicle.” Natural product communications 10,12 (2015): 2141-4.
2. Chauhan, Abha, and Ved Chauhan. “Beneficial Effects of Walnuts on Cognition and Brain Health.” Nutrients 12,2 550. 20 Feb. 2020, doi:10.3390/nu12020550
3. Alyssa M Tindall, Christopher J McLimans, Kristina S Petersen, Penny M Kris-Etherton, Regina Lamendella. “Walnuts and Vegetable Oils Containing Oleic Acid Differentially Affect the Gut Microbiota and Associations with Cardiovascular Risk Factors: Follow-up of a Randomized, Controlled, Feeding Trial in Adults at Risk for Cardiovascular Disease.” The Journal of Nutrition, 2019; DOI: 10.1093/jn/nxz289