This Chocolate Cherry Smoothie is healthy, delicious, vegan-friendly and kid-approved! It is made with six simple ingredients and is loaded with naturally sweet and tart flavors as well as nutrition!
We do smoothies almost everyday in our house, whether it’s for breakfast, paired alongside toast and peanut butter, or as a mid-afternoon snack. I will often making smoothies for lunch too (for myself when I’m working from home) because they’re so easy and quick and can pack in a lot of nutrition. I find smoothies really satisfying on hot days especially, when the thought of warming something up or cooking just doesn’t appeal to me.
Frozen fruit is the way to go:
When I make smoothies, I prefer to use frozen fruit because it creates a smooth and thick texture (almost like a milkshake!). And contrary to what some may think, frozen fruit is JUST as nutritious as fresh fruit and can help to cut down on food waste (because it doesn’t spoil like fresh does!). When it comes to the bananas, I recommend freezing them when they’re ripe, without the peel. Peel them, cut them into 2-3 smaller pieces and place them on a cookie sheet before freezing. Once frozen, put them into a freezer-safe plastic bag until you want to use them! For cherries, I find using frozen is a no-brainer, because there are no pits (I usually buy them frozen)!
This chocolate cherry smoothie is dietitian-approved
As a dietitian, smoothies are a staple because of how much nutrition you can pack into them. Frozen fruits, veggies, seeds, avocado, nut butters, protein powders (like Vega or Healthy Height), yogurt, and milk are some of my go-to smoothie ingredients. Smoothies are a great way to get one or two extra fruit and veggies servings in, and can help a picky eater meet their nutrient requirements too. I often suggest smoothies for babies or toddlers who are learning to drink from a straw – it’s the best way to teach them because it doesn’t come out too fast! Smoothies are also a great option for little ones who are teething, because they’re cold and soothing for sore gums.
Cherry and chocolate is a common flavor combination, and for good reason! The sweetness of cherries and tartness of cocoa (or cacao), complements one another and provides a beautiful deep red color. Cherries are full of antioxidants and fibre too, adding to the already-nutritious ingredients in this smoothie.
Serve it up as a smoothie bowl!
My kids’ favorite way to enjoy this smoothie is actually in smoothie bowl format. If you want to serve it in a smoothie bowl rather than a cup, I suggest adding only ½ cup of milk to make it into a thicker consistency. Once you’ve served it in a bowl, you can add toppings of choice, like cocao nibs, seeds, coconut, granola etc.
Following a vegan diet? No problem!
If you follow a vegan diet, or just prefer a dairy-free version, this smoothie is easily adaptable. Simply choose a vegan milk (I like either oat milk or almond milk), and a vegan yogurt (my fave is coconut yogurt by Maison Riviera). You can also simply omit the yogurt (the smoothie will be just as delicious without it!).
Kid-approved Chocolate Cherry Smoothie
This Chocolate Cherry Smoothie is healthy, delicious, vegan-friendly and kid-approved! It is made with 6 simple ingredients and is loaded with naturally sweet and tart flavors as well as nutrition!
Ingredients
- 1 cup frozen cherries
- 1 frozen ripe banana
- 1.5 tbsp cocoa powder
- 1 tbsp hemp hearts
- 1/3 cup Greek or non-dairy yogurt
- ¾ cup milk of choice
Instructions
- Place all ingredients into a good quality blender and blend until smooth!
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Like this recipe? You’re going to love these other smoothie recipes:
- Banana Date Smoothie
- Tropical Green Smoothie and Smoothie Bowl
- Thick & Creamy Triple Berry Smoothie
- DIY Mocha Frappuccino Smoothie
![[AD] Who else loves a quick, one-pot meal for the busy back-to-school season? 🙋♀️
As a dietitian and mom, I’m all about recipes that are quick, affordable, nourishing, and of course, delicious. That’s why I’ve teamed up with my friends at L’Ancêtre Cheese to bring you my Homemade One-Pot Hamburger Helper—perfect for weeknight dinners and makes awesome leftovers for lunchboxes too!
What I love most? You can toss everything—beef, pasta, veggies—into one pot, saving time and dishes! Plus, @ancetrecheese , made locally here in Canada from pasture-fed cows, adds that perfect cheesy touch. It’s organic, sustainably produced, and absolutely delicious. 🧀
What you need:
* 1.5 lbs lean ground beef
* 4 cups uncooked whole grain, regular or gluten-free pasta noodles (like rotini or macaroni)
* ½ yellow onion, diced
* 2 cups veggies of choice, diced (eg. mushrooms, bell peppers, carrots, broccoli, cauliflower etc.)
* 1 cup frozen peas
* 2 cloves garlic, minced
* 1 tsp pepper
* 1.5 cups milk of choice
* 1.5 cups chicken broth
* 1-680 mL jar tomato pasta sauce
* 2 tsp Italian Seasoning
* Tsp red pepper flakes
* 3 cups L’Ancêtre’s Marbled Mild Cheddar
Put it all together:
1. Cook beef in a large pot over medium-high heat until browned, then drain. Add onion, garlic, red pepper, mushrooms, red pepper flakes, Italian seasoning, salt, and pepper; cook until veggies are tender-crisp.
2. Mix in milk, broth, tomato sauce, and uncooked macaroni. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat and cook for 15-18 minutes, stirring often. Adjust liquid as needed.
3. Remove from heat, stir in frozen peas and 1 cup of cheese until melted. Transfer to a casserole dish, sprinkle with remaining cheese, and bake at 375°F for 5-10 minutes until golden. Cool before serving.
Make sure to pick up L’Ancêtre cheese (either a family-sized block or pre-shredded) at a local retailer near you! Visit https://www.fromagerieancetre.com/en/cheeses/ to find out more!
#Ad #Partner #BackToSchool #LunchboxIdeas #OrganicCheese #FamilyMeals #LAncetreCheese](https://www.sarahremmer.com/wp-content/uploads/sb-instagram-feed-images/459558167_1543212989903442_998663133378052381_nfull.webp)
![👇[AD] Dietitian-approved “snack lunches” that my kids love, in partnership with my friends at @naturesbakery 💜
Make sure to comment “snack lunch” and I’ll send you a free school-lunch cheat sheet 🙌🏻
Let’s be honest, the items kids get most excited about in their school lunches are the... snacks! So, why not build a meal-worthy “snack lunch” that your kids can be excited about opening and enjoying?
We do this often, and for good reason. It’s quick and easy for me (yay!), and my kids love helping pack them. Plus, these lunches can be just as nourishing as a “traditional” lunch. Bonus: the most often get eaten!
Here’s my “rule of 4” for building these lunches, ensuring they’re packed with the nutrients my kids need for the day:
1️⃣ Whole grains/starches
2️⃣ Protein-rich foods
3️⃣ Fruit
4️⃣ Veggies
As a dietitian Mom, I’m a huge fan of including @naturesbakery Fig Bars in my kids’ lunches. Not only do they always get eaten (aka my kids love them), but I love that they contain a simple ingredients list with whole grains and real fruit. They’re also plant-based, dairy-free and nut-free (making them perfect for school lunches!).
A typical “snack lunch” might look like this:
Charcuterie-Style
* Meats, cheese and crackers; for plant-based families, you could swap the meat and cheese with smoked tofu slices, tempeh strips or plant-based deli slices, plant-based cheeses, and hummus, roasted chickpeas or edamame.
* Cut up fruit
* Chia pudding
* A Nature’s Bakery Raspberry Fig Bar (plant-based, dairy-free, and nut-free!)
Mediterranean-focused:
* mini naan bread/pita
* Hummus
* mini caprese salad skewers
* Nature’s Bakery Blueberry Fig Bar
* Fruit
* Dried chickpeas
Fun Finger Foods:
* energy bites
* edamame beans
* Seed and banana roll-ups
* string cheese (or dairy-free alternative)
* Nature’s Bakery Raspberry Fig Bar
* Mini carrots
If you think your kids will love snack lunches, comment “snack lunch” below for a free school lunch cheat sheet ❤️
#Ad #Partner #NaturesBakery #SnackLunch #SchoolLunchIdeas #DietitianApproved #PlantBasedSnacks](https://www.sarahremmer.com/wp-content/uploads/sb-instagram-feed-images/458372728_522285503507501_4269903014098073865_nfull.webp)
Comments
JB says
What type of cocoa powder do you recommend? Baking cocoa that is unsweetened, like Hershey’s?
Sarah Remmer says
Yes, that works well! Enjoy :).