– vegan – gluten free – refined sugar free –
Creamy, perfectly sweetened iced or frozen mocha coffee drink. With the added nutrients from the banana, this coffee would be a great alternative to your regular morning coffee + breakfast all in one.
You will also need:
A blender
See below for a breakdown of ingredients and nutrition information.
[mpprecipe-recipe:74]
To make this drink, you will need:
- Cold/room temp. coffee: actually has hidden benefits when used in moderation. As most of us know, the caffeine in coffee can give us an energy boost, which makes this drink perfect for a breakfast on-the-go or a midday pick-me-up. Coffee is also loaded with antioxidants that protect against free radical damage and the prevention of heart disease and cancer. However, coffee is still mildly acidic to the body, so best to not over-do it.
- Bananas: I recommend buying baby bananas if they are available at your grocery store as they are in their natural state. Standard bananas are actually a hybrid that contain more starches. However, standard bananas are still a great option since one medium banana contains 16% of your daily potassium intake, 33% of your vitamin B6, 18% of your manganese, 14% of your daily vitamin C and 3 grams of fiber. It is a good rule of thumb to use 2 baby bananas in place of 1 standard banana. It is also important that the banana is ripe not only for taste, but for quality. The more a banana ripens, the more resistant starches change to simple sugars that are easily digested and more antioxidants are present.
- Oat/soy milk, unsweetened: a great dairy-free alternative to cow’s milk since it has less calories and less sugar. Depending on your milk of choice, dairy-free milk is a great source of calcium and vitamin D. Be sure to buy unsweetened milk for this recipe to prevent added sugars. Substitutions: I recommend using oat or soy milk since they are slightly creamier, but nut milk will also work.
- Pure maple syrup: although high in sugar, is loaded with 24 antioxidants that help protect against free radical damage. It also contains anti-inflammatory properties that help to protect against chronic diseases, brain inflammation, intestinal inflammation, and nerve inflammation. Therefore, pure maple syrup is a great natural sweetener when used in moderation. Fake maple syrup is made with high fructose corn syrup and provides zero health benefits. Substitutions: any sweetener of choice will work but measurements may need to be adjusted.
- Cacao powder: a great way to get all the flavor of chocolate without all the sugar that comes along with it. Note that there is a difference between cacao and cocoa powder. It is important to choose a high quality cacao powder, which is richer in magnesium, iron, potassium and calcium. Cocoa powder, although cheaper, typically contains unnecessary fillers and less minerals and antioxidants.
- Ice
