Chocolate Peanut Butter Protein Smoothie (without banana)

• Protein and fiber-rich: 18 grams of protein and 9 grams of fiber!
• Essential minerals: 387 milligrams of calcium and 4 milligrams of iron!
• Easy to adapt: Use "real" peanut butter or choose powdered peanut butter to decrease the fat content if this is a concern for you. You can also substitute another nut butter like almond butter for the peanut butter.
• Made without bananas: Of course, you can add ½ a banana if you'd like, as in these recipes for Chocolate Almond Smoothie, Mocha Almond Smoothie Bowl, and Gingerbread Smoothie, but if you don't like the thick texture of smoothies made with banana, then this recipe is the one for you!
• Flavor: It tastes like a rich candy bar!
• Allergen-friendly: This vegan smoothie is both gluten-free and dairy-free.

This smoothie makes a complete meal for me. Since it has 282 calories, it contains enough calories to replace a meal rather than accompany it. If you want to sip a smoothie along with your regular breakfast, I'd suggest making half the amount.

• plant-based milk: Any type. I like to use fresh unsweetened nut milk found in a carton in the dairy section of my grocery store. My favorite is unsweetened cashew milk (at only 25 calories per cup), but you can use almond milk, soy milk, oat milk, or other varieties of plant-based milk.
• peanut butter: For the best flavor, use peanut butter with no added sugar or other additives. To lower the fat content, choose powdered peanut butter. You can also substitute almond butter. Using nut butter will keep you feeling full longer. I usually add a tablespoon, but you can increase this amount if you like.
• cocoa: Use unsweetened cocoa, not hot chocolate mix.
• hemp hearts: Hemp seeds, or hemp hearts as they are also known, add protein, Omega-3 fatty acids, and essential minerals. Hemp contains phytosterols, which may help reduce cholesterol in the body by removing fat build-up in the arteries.
• chia seeds: Chia seeds are a good source of protein, fiber, and essential minerals.
• dates: Dates add natural sweetness and are a good source of fiber. Using 3 small dates makes a sweet smoothie. You can substitute maple syrup, honey or 0-calorie Monkfruit sweetener.
• Other additions: You can also add collagen powder, flax seeds or a pinch or two of cinnamon. Sometimes I add a ¼ teaspoon of spirulina.

Go easy on the fiber at first: If you're just starting to introduce fiber-rich foods into your diet, I'd suggest starting slowly. You'll get all the flavor in this smoothie from plant-based milk, peanut butter, and cocoa. Consuming too much fiber at once, if you're not used to it, may make you uncomfortable.

Organize the ingredients in one spot. I find it best to have all my smoothie ingredients, (other than the fresh nut milk, of course) in one cupboard, right near my blender. I store them in glass jars, each with a scoop, rather than in the bags they came in. Having everything handy makes this a very quick meal to put together.

I make this smoothie fresh in the morning, but I usually drink half before I go to the gym and the other half when I come home. If you make it a day ahead, the chia seeds tend to form a gel and make it quite thick.

Enjoy! Let me know in the comments section below if you try this chocolate peanut butter smoothie recipe!