Summer is officially here when ‘Coffee Coolers’ appear on the menu of certain high street barista chains! They are such a tasty indulgence and if I’m not careful, I’d have a plastic cup with a straw/spoon permanently attached to my hand throughout the sunshine months (or weeks if you live in the UK)!
After todays training session (3 weeks to go till London Triathlon…eeek!) I really fancied something cool and refreshing but also nourishing and helpful for replenishing the glycogen stores, so with a cooler in mind, I put my trusty Breville Active Blend to good use. It was creamy and tasty and really did hit the spot. I felt nicely full and wasn’t ravenous for the rest of the day (which I often can be after a long training session). Pea or hemp protein powders can be a more natural source of protein if you aren’t keen on soy or whey – alternatively opt for a teaspoon of peanut butter with some hot chocolate powder.
Ingredients.
40ml full fat milk (almond or coconut milk can be a good alternative if you are dairy free)
1 tbsp full fat Greek yogurt (coconut or soya yogurt for a dairy free alternative)
3 chopped pitted dates
40g chocolate protein powder
1 mug of coffee (I used instant decaf coffee as I don’t like to drink caffeine after mid day).
Method.
- Boil the kettle and make a cup of black coffee (approx. 1 tsp of instant coffee) – set aside to cool whilst you prep the rest of the ingredients.
- Finely chop the dates and place in the smoothie maker, along with the milk, protein powder, Greek Yogurt and a large handful of ice cubes.
- Add the mug of coffee and then blend for 2-3 minutes until the dates and ice cubes are smoothly blended.
- In a large glass, add a few more ice-cubes and then pour the mix over the ice before drinking and enjoying 🙂
