Mango Chocolate Smoothie with Spinach- Food and Mood Dietitian

Name: Mango Chocolate Smoothie with Spinach
Prep time: 5 min
Total time: 5 min
Ingredients: 1 cup mango chunks (frozen); 1 small banana (sliced, frozen); 1/2 cup baby spinach (frozen); 1 Tbsp unsweetened cocoa powder; 2 tsp maple syrup; 1 tsp vanilla; 1 cup milk (divided)

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Are you looking for an easy smoothie for depression or a tasty anti-anxiety smoothie? This Mango Chocolate Smoothie with Spinach will help brighten your day from the inside out.

You don’t want to hassle over a difficult recipe when you are depressed or anxious, but the worst thing you can do is to eat a bunch of ultra-processed junk that will leave you feeling worse.

This smoothie is quick, easy, and made with simple ingredients that will help your mood.

Mango Chocolate Smoothie Ingredients & Mental Health Benefits

Mango

Besides being delicious, mango is high in several vitamins that are important for mental health, including vitamin C, vitamin A, vitamin B6, and folate.

And don’t forget about mango’s fiber, which is good for gut health. And good gut health contributes to good mental health.

Unsweetened Cocoa Powder

Some might say that chocolate makes everything better! Well, studies DO indicate that cocoa and dark chocolate contain several nutritional components that can positively affect your mood.

According to research, cocoa contains many phytochemicals, including polyphenols, which are antioxidants with anti-inflammatory properties.

This is important because, along with many chronic diseases, inflammation can lead to depression, anxiety, fatigue, and social withdrawal.

In addition, dark chocolate has been shown to increase the diversity of the gut microbiome. Greater diversity in the gut microbiome is linked with improved mood via the gut–brain axis.

Spinach

It is surprising how little you taste spinach in a smoothie, especially if you use baby spinach. And spinach is one of the most nutrient dense foods on the planet. This means you get a ton of nutrients in very few calories.

As a green leafy vegetable, spinach is loaded with mood-boosting vitamin A, vitamin C, folate, dietary fiber, and phytonutrients. And it’s a top anti-inflammatory food that decreases the inflammation that can lead to mood disorders.

How to Make the Mango Chocolate Smoothie

Add the mango, banana slices, spinach, cocoa powder, maple syrup, vanilla, and 3/4 cup of milk to the blender. Blend on medium speed until smooth. Add the remaining 1/2 cup of milk (more or less) until the smoothie is your desired consistency.

Mango chocolate smoothie in a glass cup and a small bowl of mango next to it

Mango Chocolate Smoothie Tips & FAQ

Sometimes we have overripe bananas that we don’t want to waste, so I slice them up in a single layer on a wax paper-lined sheet pan. I freeze them for about an hour, then store them in a container in the freezer.

Whenever we want a smoothie, we pull out the desired number of banana slices. A small banana is about 12 slices (1/2″ thick each).

Frozen banana slices on a baking sheet lined with wax paper

Can I use fresh mango, bananas, and spinach instead of frozen?

Yes, you can use fresh fruits/veggies with ice cubes to make your smoothie, but I prefer to use all frozen produce. The smoothie is creamier and more nutrient dense because you don’t have to use ice cubes (water) to get the frozen consistency. Plus, you can always have the frozen fruits/veggies on hand whenever you want to have a healthy smoothie for a quick breakfast or snack.

What kind of milk do you use?

I use fat-free regular milk, but you can use any milk you like: regular whole milk, almond milk, soy milk, coconut milk, oat milk, etc.

This mango chocolate smoothie with spinach is an easy and delicious way to get the nutrients you need to support your mental health. To get more recipes like this one and other special benefits, sign up for my email newsletter and get your free download of the “Top Nutrients & Foods for Optimal Mental Health” graphic ebook. Cheers to your health!