Chocolate Peanut Butter Oatmeal Cookie Smoothie

 

Happy new year! I've decided to kick off 2015 with a sweet treat. The holidays are over but we certainly don't have to live without chocolate!

This rich and satisfying smoothie feels indulgent but offers a lot of nutrition: protein, iron, fiber, omega-3s. and calcium. It provides a good balance of carbs and protein—a combo that helps you feel satiated for a long time. Sounds like a great way to start your day, huh?

I incorporated an ingredient that's new to me: Norbu, a natural sweetener made from monk fruit. The company sent me some free samples to experiment with and I decided this smoothie would be a great place to start, since you definitely need to add some sweetness to balance the bitterness of the cocoa. Norbu is naturally sweet, has zero calories, and is low on the glycemic index; however, it does have some carbs, if you're tracking your intake.

I was pleased to find that Norbu worked well in my recipe—it didn't add any weird taste or aftertaste, and sweetened the smoothie nicely!

Ingredients
yield: 16 ounces, about two servings

• 3 Tablespoons rolled oats
• 1 cup milk (i use whole)
• 2 Tablespoons creamy natural peanut butter
• 1 Tablespoon unsweetened cocoa powder
• 2 teaspoons flaxseed meal
• 2-3 teaspoons Norbu (can substitute honey or 1/2 banana)
• 1 1/4 cup ice

Put the oats in your blender and process until they turn into a fine powder. Then, add the rest of the ingredients and blend until smooth and frothy. 

If you want, garnish with some oats and chocolate chips. Tastes like a delicious cookie, but nutritious enough for breakfast!


     



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