Don’t you just love fresh cherries in the summer? What I don’t love is not finishing them before they go bad, I hate to throw delicious food away! With fresh, seasonal fruit I usually start freezing extra when I see it’s not going to get eaten as quickly as I intended. Cherries are easy to freeze if you pit them beforehand.
Sweet or tart, all cherries are LOADED with healthful nutrients. The rich, red color comes from anthocyanins, a type of antioxidant found in grapes (and red wine) that help reduce inflammation and may help soothe muscle and joint pain. The quercetin in cherries is a flavonoid with anti-carcinogenic and anti-histamine properties. They also contain pectin, a soluble fiber that helps reduce LDL (“bad”) cholesterol and have 19 times the beta-carotene found in blueberries for eyesight and skin health. Cherries are also one of the few known food sources of melatonin, a hormone that helps regulate your circadian rhythm and sleep. Wow! That’s a lot packed into a small package.
Add cherries (fresh or frozen) to this delicious protein shake for a decadent tasting healthy meal or snack! The chia in this recipe adds healthy fat, fiber and thickens it up. The chocolate in the form of cacao powder is a delicious 100% dark chocolate source of antioxidants, magnesium, iron and fiber. Who says protein shakes have to taste bland and chalky?
Chocolate Chia Cherry Protein Shake
Ingredients
- 1 cup Cherries fresh or frozen and pitted
- 1 1/2 cup Non-dairy unsweetened milk almond, coconut, or hemp
- 1 tablespoon Fresh chia seed
- 1-2 tablespoons Raw cacao powder cocoa powder will also work
- 1 handful Baby spinach
- 1 scoop Protein powder whey, pea, rice or hemp
- 2 drops Chocolate flavored stevia plain will work or use honey to taste
- Ice cubes add to your liking
Instructions
- Add all ingredients to a high powered blender (such as a Vitamix or Nutribullet). Add a little water if needed to blend thoroughly. Adjust cacao and sweetener to your taste. Enjoy without guilt!