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Recipe by Chef Voula Halliday

A smoothie made with almond milk is a nutrient-rich way to start the day or keep you going through the mid-afternoon slump. The combination of almond milk, cocoa powder and oats makes this a delicious and heart-healthy tummy filler. To wake up your tastebuds with some minty freshness, try the chocolate mint variation. More recipes can be found at www.sonice.ca.

Makes 2 servings

Ingredients:

1                                                   medium banana

4                                                   dried dates

2 tbsp (30 mL)                      unsweetened cocoa powder

¾ cup (175 mL)                    large flake oats

2 cups (500 mL)                  So Nice Almond Original organic almond beverage

½ tsp (2 mL)                           vanilla extract

For a Chocolate Mint Almond Smoothie:

Add ¼ cup (60 mL) fresh coarsely chopped mint leaves, or a dash of mint extract.

Directions:

Add all ingredients into a blender. Pulse until smooth and creamy. Serve right away.

Tip: For an icy version, use a frozen banana instead of fresh.

Make-ahead tip: This smoothie can be made a day in advance and stored in a jar in the fridge. While it rests overnight the oats will thicken the mixture. If you don’t prefer this texture, simply stir in additional So Nice until you have achieved the desired texture.

Nutrients per serving: 290.4 calories, 5.4 g fat (1.2 g saturated fat, 0 g trans fat), 0.0 g cholesterol, 7.7 g protein, 57.4 g carbohydrates, 6.8 g fibre, 25.4 g sugars, 115.2 mg sodium, 336.2 mg calcium