This chocolate peanut butter shake is a perfect choice for seniors. It offers plenty of healthy nutrients, while still tasting good.
You can check out some information about the advantage of the smoothie below or skip straight to the recipe.
Why Make This Chocolate Peanut Butter Shake?
I had two aims with this recipe.
- To create something healthy and satisfying
- To create something that tastes good
Both areas are very important for senior nutrition. In the end, it doesn’t matter how amazing a smoothie is or how many nutrients it contains. Those aspects will only be useful if the senior drinks the shake.
My own caregiving experience has taught me that there are cases where seniors are stubborn or where they simply don’t want to eat. A delicious chocolate shake can make all the difference.
In my own case, we mostly relied on either Boost or Ensure shakes. Those are good, especially as there are so many different types to choose from. But, they are full of processed ingredients. Many are high in sugar too.
Making your own shake gives you the chance to control the ingredients that are used. The end result is a shake that is healthier and also tastes better.
Protein
The shake is a good source of protein, due to the use of peanut butter, protein powder, and Greek yogurt. This helps to make the shake filling. It can even act as a meal replacement in some situations.
Leafy Greens
Leafy greens have been linked to many health benefits, including increased cognition. I used spinach when making the smoothie, but you could substitute it for any other type of leafy green.
An equally important feature is that you can’t taste the spinach at all. This is perfect for anyone who is resistant to eating spinach (let’s face it, leafy greens aren’t the most popular vegetable out there).
Probiotics
The inclusion of Greek yogurt means that the shake also contains some probiotics. Probiotics help to support gut health, which is beneficial in many different ways.
You can choose whichever type of Greek yogurt you like, just make sure it contains live strains. Low sugar varieties are the best, as there is plenty of sweetness elsewhere in the shake.
What Milk Should You Use?
I used the equivalent of 1% milk when making this smoothie. There are many advantages of milk, including the fact that it is readily available. It is also rich in calcium and other beneficial nutrients. 1% is a good choice for this recipe, as the fat content is relatively low, while still creating a satisfying smoothie.
You could also use any other type of dairy or non-dairy milk.
What About The Texture?
I didn’t use any frozen ingredients in this recipe, which gives it a texture that’s similar to a chocolate shake. The main reason is versatility. You won’t always have ice on hand to make a smoothie.
The lack of ice also means that this shake is less cold than your typical smoothie. This makes it easier to drink for people with sensitive teeth.
If you’re looking for a smoothie-like texture, you could easily add ice in. If you don’t want to dilute the drink, you could freeze the Greek yogurt before adding it to the smoothie. Another option would be to use frozen berries. These add an interesting flavor to the drink and are easy to use.
Recipe
- 25 grams of Chocolate Protein Powder
- 2 heaped teaspoons of peanut butter (I used Pics)
- 2 heaped teaspoons of cocoa powder
- 1.5 cups of milk
- 1 heaped dessert spoon of Greek yogurt
- A handful or two of spinach
- A little cinnamon powder
Add all the ingredients into a blender and blend together.
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