Chocolate Kale Protein Smoothie

If you follow me on instagram @krystamacgray then you probably already saw this last week. If you don’t follow me on insta, I do share some recipes there that I don’t put on the blog so if you ever need some breakfast/lunch/dinner inspo, you can head over there. I also post about lots of other stuff besides food.I make a lot of smoothies. They are one of the go-to’s of my life. However, I don’t always make the same ones over and over. I always return to my favorites, but I et hot and heavy over one or two at a time and make them over and over again. I’ve made a version of this chocolate kale smoothie for years, but I’ve only just recently landed on a version I don’t want to change.This is creamy and delicious. You don’t get a huge amount of kale with a serving, only one leaf in fact, but one is better than the none you were going to have, amiright?This is a version of the Mayan Black Thunder Smoothie I used to make. That one is on my old food blog: krystasfoodblog.blogspot.com if you want to check it out, but I think this one is better.The protein I use is tasteless, but if you have a chocolate protein you like you can sub that instead. Protein powders just too often have that chalky flavor I don’t like, so I prefer straight collagen whenever I can, providing my drink has enough flavor on it’s own. And this one does!In case you get confused while reading the ingredient list, this is the frozen coconut packets I use.I find them in the freezer section of my grocery store. If you can’t find them, just substitute flaked coconut—unsweetened though. Not the kind you find in the baking section laden with sugar.The cacao in this makes me feel really energetic and because of the protein and fat, I’m able to stay full until lunchtime. This is always something I consider when I make smoothies. Yeah, but is it going to keep me full?You betcha!If you give it a try let me know how you like it! It’s one of my very favorites.

Chocolate Protein Kale Smoothie

1 serving1 frozen banana1 large kale leaf1 2-oz pkg pureed frozen coconut pulp or 1/4 cup coconut flakes1 1/2 tbsp raw cacao powder1 tablespoon cacao nibs1/2 tea vanilla1 scoop collagen protein (about 2 tablespoons)1 1/4 cup unsweetened plant milk ( I use a combo of unsweetened chocolate almond milk and vanilla coconut almond blend)4 drops chocolate steviaBlend everything together in a high speed blender and serve.