What to put in a Chocolate Protein Smoothie

The Obvious One– Chocolate Protein

If you’re making a chocolate protein smoothie, then the number one ingredient is going to be chocolate flavored protein powder.

This is going to be the main protein source in the smoothie. I always advocate using a natural, health protein powder if you want to make a protein smoothie. Adding a ton of nut butter and oats is going to simply give you a weight gainer smoothie. The nut butter is just too calorie dense.

So, my chocolate protein smoothies will all have chocolate flavored protein powder in them.

I like to use a clean vegan protein powder, but you can also make a great chocolate protein smoothie with whey.

Finally, you can choose an unflavored protein powder. But if you want to get the chocolate flavor into your smoothie, you’re going to have to add chocolate flavor elsewhere. I cover this below when I discuss cacao powder and other ingredients.

Chocolate Flavored Vegan Protein

Here are some good chocolate flavored proteins. I’m partial to Vega protein of the selection here. I like the texture and the flavor, but all are quality and well made proteins.

Chocolate Flavored Whey Protein

Whey does blend up smoother and is easier to make in a blender bottle. But if you’re making a smoothie, that’s not as big an issue. Some people like to use whey for their straight water and protein powder shakes, though. And if you don’t want to have a vegan and whey protein at home, then that’s understandable.

Here are my top picks. Optimum is the brand that you see most recommended by bodybuilders. It tastes great (mocha is a top pick) but it’s not “organic”. Naked is a “clean” brand but doesn’t have as sweet a flavor. This makes it not so great for just water mixs, but it’s fine for a smoothie.

The Not So Obvious- Chocolate Chips

I’ve written about chocolate chips and blenders before. To do a quick recap, I’m not a big fan of blending smoothies with chocolate chips.

If you are planning on blending up a chocolate protein smoothie, there are better sources for the chocolate.

Chocolate chips don’t belong in a protein smoothie. They are better for a milkshake or a dessert shake of some other source.

The Antioxidant Extra- Organic Cacao Powder

Cacao powder is a healthy additive that you can add to smoothies. It does more than just impart a chocolate flavor, it’s a great way to boost the antioxidant content of the smoothie.

This might not be what you set out for when making a chocolate protein smoothie (protein content is obviously the number one goal) but it’s worth taking into account.

And if you’re getting a plain protein powder, or one that is not artificially sweetened (such as Naked brand) then you are also able to boost the “chocolate” flavor…though it is important to note that you should also add a sweetener such as coconut sugar, honey, or maple syrup if you’re getting a unsweetened protein powder.

It’s important to note that you shouldn’t just add the regular cacao powder that you can get in the supermarket. That’s not going to be the healthiest option. Those cacao powders are designed for cooking and bakers. They are fine for baking a cake. But they aren’t “healthy” of course.

I covered the whole topic of where chocolate comes from in a longer blog post. If you are curious, I suggest that you go ahead and read that one.

Finally, I’d advise to only get organic. It sounds like a broken record to most people, but certain things (such as coffee and cacao beans and powder) really should be organic. I’ve selected a few good organic cacao powders that you can add to your chocolate protein

Fruit and Chocolate Protein Powder

A smoothie isn’t a smoothie without some fruit. Or at least that’s what some people say. And I tend to agree. Without fruit, you’re basically making a blender bottle shake that you don’t need a blender for.

So, what fruit goes well with chocolate protein smoothies?

Bananas?

This is a super popular mixture. Bananas and chocolate go really well together and therefore it make sense you’d mix them in a protein shake. Plus, bananas are great at helping with exercise recovery. They provide extra magnesium and other important minerals.

Also, bananas provide a creamy texture.

Berries?

I love berries in my smoothies, and one reason that they go so well with a chocolate protein smoothie is that they are fantastic for recovery.

Berries have antioxidant properties that help to eliminate the oxidative stress that occurs after exercise. That’s why they are perfect for an after workout chocolate protein smoothie.

The easiest way to do this is to get a bag of organic frozen berries. I like to mix in raspberries, blueberries, and blackberries. Strawberries have a strong flavor, so if you add them be aware that they can overpower the flavor.

 

 

Honey, Coconut Sugar, or Maple Syrup- For A Sweet Chocolate Smoothie

You can certainly add a sweetener to your chocolate smoothie, but I want to caution that what we’re talking about here is a chocolate smoothie, not a dessert.

Smoothies often times are used interchangeably by folks to mean anything that is made in a blender.

But once you start adding sweeteners, and certainly if you throw in ice creams (even healthy ice creams) then you’re basically having a sweet dessert.

But, if you are someone who wants a chocolate protein smoothie that is still healthy, I’d advise against adding too many sweeteners.

So, with that in mind, i suggest that you stick to either raw honey or organic maple syrup. You can use either one or both.

Raw honey does impart a strong flavor, but if you’re using a chocolate flavored protein, the honey won’t mask it.

The other reason to use raw honey is that is has a number of health benefits.

I would like to point out that it’s only raw honey, and not normal honey or “honey product”, that has the helpful health benefits. So, if you’re going to use honey in your chocolate protein smoothie, use a good raw honey.

Here’s a few good raw honey options to use.

The other option is maple syrup. To start with, maple syrup cannot be raw. That’s because the process of making maple syrup requires heating maple tree sap to boil it down to syrup.

However, though you can’t get raw maple syrup, you can and should get organic maple syrup. That’s because pesticides and other chemicals are very harmful and many large maple syrup producers do unfortunately use pesticides.

So, please choose an organic maple syrup. And of course, don’t choose a “maple syrup flavored” product. Some unethical sellers try and package maple syrup flavored product  (which might be rice sugar or something else even high fructose corn syrup).

Here’s my picks for good organic maple syrups.

Coconut Sugar

I am more of a fan of using maple syrup in smoothies, but that’s because I like to eat honey in oatmeal. Also, honey can be a bit of an overpowering flavor when mixed with other things. I find that maple syrup is not as strong and powerful a flavor.

If you are going to use coconut sugar, then make sure you’re getting an organic coconut sugar and not one that’s just made from a processed coconut sugar. That won’t be healthy. And also avoid shredded coconut. The stuff that you buy in bags is heavily processed and not at all healthy.

 

Should A Chocolate Protein Shake Be Sweet?

It’s a bit of a misnomer that chocolate needs to be sweet. Not only chocolate protein shakes, but chocolate of any kind.

In fact, there are plenty of people who prefer dark chocolate that is not super sweet. It’s milk chocolate that has a large sugar content.

Health and fitness fanatics will likely not be on board with super sweet chocolate protein shakes. Unless they are getting that sweetness from a low calorie source such as fake sugars.

I myself am fine with making a dark chocolate protein smoothie with cacao powder and adding something like pineapple to add the sweetness.

 

Supporting Articles and Links to Research

–Strawberries and Pain

–Fruits and Arthritis 

–Combining Chocolate and Workouts