Guest Post: Chocolate PB Energy Bowl [Clean, Vegan, GF]

Try out this awesome Chocolate PB Energy Bowl and learn a bit about my fellow Recipe Reduxer Kelly from the blog EatRealLiveWell. Her delicious bowl is protein packed and well rounded.

Today on the blog is my very first guest post! I have the pleasure of introducing Kelly, as mentioned above, from EatRealLiveWell.  Her and I have very similar views on nutrition and fitness and her recipes are an excellent resource for well-balanced meals. She will be sharing her Energy Bowl today and even though I have seen plenty of smoothie bowls, I can’t say I’ve ever made one myself. Therefore, I thought it would be a perfect addition to the recipes that you can already find on my blog. As per most of my recipes, this one is packed with protein and fiber, is clean, vegan and gluten free.  You also know that I am a huge fan of healthy #dessertforbreakfast and this recipe can for sure fit that bill! Now I leave the rest of the post to Kelly!

Hello! I am so excited to be here at And a Dash of Cinnamon sharing a healthy but still decadent recipe breakfast or post-workout snack recipe. I am going to start by introducing my background and myself. I am a registered dietitian and Board Certified Specialist in Sports Dietetics. I grew up as an athlete and drastically changed my eating habits as a young teen when my mom chose an elimination diet over surgery and medication to treat an illness – and it worked! I immediately saw how eating higher quality foods made me feel better and allowed me to perform better as a competitive swimmer. I then knew I wanted to help others feel that way, too. I maintain an active lifestyle competing in road races and the occasional triathlon but enjoy weight training and yoga, too. I am a bit of a travel addict but love a relaxing weekend at home with my husband as well. In my career, I am a professor, nutrition coach, speaker and consultant, and enjoy working in the media. I truly believe that eating real food and leading an active lifestyle are keys to not only physical health, but also mental health and happiness. My blog focuses on providing balanced and nourishing plant-based recipes to fuel everyone from athletes to those just beginning their journey to health.

The best part about eating healthy is that it is delicious, too. I hate that many have the perception that healthy food won’t be satisfying, and this recipe really disproves that thought. While it tastes rich, chocolatey, and sweet, it has no added sugars, contains healthy fat and is a good source of both protein and fiber, two things many American breakfasts are deficient in.

Athlete or not, we all need healthy carbohydrates to fuel a successful sweat session and a healthy mind.

What makes the smoothie bowl different than a smoothie is the texture and for me, temperature. Both my digestive tract and body aren’t a big fan of cold food in the morning. I even drink piping hot coffee over iced coffee all summer long. So, by using just a tad bit of frozen banana, this keeps my taste buds and belly happy. The texture is a little thicker and more creamy due to the lack of ice and lower amount of liquid. In this recipe I am recommending ¼ cup to a ½ cup of milk as some blenders will pulse all this no problem with the former and others may need the latter to get the blender going.

So why am I calling this an “energy” bowl? Other than the macronutrient balance, the cacao and maca contribute, too. What is it about this maca powder that many people are using in smoothies and oatmeal? Maca root has “superfood” status right now (“”because that word has no legal definition) due to some research showing it supports hormonal health in both males and females. It also has been found to be anti-inflammatory, similar to ginger and turmeric root. There are some claims that it boosts energy too but, I just like it because it adds a sweet flavor without providing sugar! The cacao contains potent antioxidants that can slightly dilate blood vessels to increase blood flow. Overall, the nutrient and antioxidant content make this recipe great for your heart!

If you’re ready for dessert for breakfast that is actually super healthy and satisfying, and won’t make your blood sugar crazy all day, whip this up in under 5 minutes. I hope this recipe finds it’s way to your belly – thanks for reading along!

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Guest Post: Chocolate PB Energy Bowl [Clean, Vegan, GF]

Servings 1 bowl

Ingredients

• 1/2 small frozen banana
• ½ small fresh banana
• 1 scoop garden of life raw chocolate protein powder
• 1 teaspoon maca root powder
• 1 tablespoon cacao powder
• 1 tablespoon natural peanut butter
• ¼-1/2 C unsweetened milk
• 1 teaspoon hemp seeds
• 1 teaspoon chia seeds
• 1 teaspoon cacao nibs
• 1/2 tablespoon shredded or shaved unsweetened coconut

Instructions

1. Blend all ingredients other than the seeds and cacao nibs together until you get a nice smooth consistency. Start with only a ¼ C of the milk.
2. It should be thick and creamy – if your blender has a hard time getting going, add 2 tbsp milk at a time until you get the consistency you need.
3. Pour into a bowl and sprinkle the chia, hemp and cacao on top.

Recipe Notes

The amount of liquid needed will depend on your blender

I link up with Deborah and Sarah’s, and  the fit foodie mama’s Meatless Monday, #recipeoftheweek,Homestead Blog Hop, glutenfreefridays,  #healthyveganfridays,  What’s for Dinner, Sunday Fitness and Food, GraciousPantry, Kriska Marie