Peanut Butter Monkey Smoothie

I absolutely love this smoothie, but hadn't made it for awhile.  This is a good workout smoothie.  I would make it before Atzin and I would go lift weights.  I also occasionally make it as a "breakfast" smoothie.

This smoothie is supposed to be a metabolic accelerator.  Being in weight watchers, this does take a leap of faith because if you had the entire serving it would be a whopping 15 points in the weight watchers world.  However, it was always amazing to me how when I ate Paleo, I would eat so much and think, I must have gained so much weight this week; but in fact, I would end up losing more weight.  So, although this is calorie dense because of the "good fats" in this, I wouldn't worry about it too much.  You can see that I am a mestiza even in my "diet" philosophy; pulling from various diet traditions and tools.  I think one of the reasons I was able to lose so much weight on weight watchers was because it was only one tool among many others - including switching to what Rolando, my husband, calls a Paleo inspired diet because I don't stick to it all the time.  As you will see in this blog, I am always gluten free - but not always grain free completely.

Given that last week, I got out all my desires for gluten free grains (the gluten free buttermilk pancakes, the gluten free biscuits, etc.), I'm feeling the desire for a completely Paleo day today (no grains at all and no dairy).   I am evening thinking it might be a smoothie day for breakfast and lunch with enjoying my fill of Paleo tamales this evening.

Okay, so here it is:  (Adapted from  the book 31 Perfect Fitness Smoothies)

1 Scoop of Chocolate Protein Powder
1 TBSP unsweetened dark chocolate cocoa powder
1 1/2 cups unsweetened almond milk
1 TBSP coconut oil
1 TBSP almond butter
1 banana
1 tsp vanilla stevia
5 ice cubes

Combine all ingredients in you blender until smooth and enjoy!

This makes a VERY generous 1 serving.  Usually, I make this and it makes enough for Atzin to have one whole protein shake mixer of it and I am able to have a small glass (so only 5 pts).  This morning I doubled the recipe and it was enough for all three of us to have a protein shake mixer of it - about 3/4 full.