Chocolate Banana Smoothie with a2 Milk®

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After an active and busy day at school, a yummy and healthy snack is what the kids deserve. 😉 If you do not have a lot of time, a smoothie is the way to go.

My kids’ favorite smoothie is chocolate & banana: thick and creamy, protein-packed, filled with healthy nutrients.

And since today I used a2 Milk® to prepare the smoothie, I will be able to enjoy it too 😉 img_7385

I always loved milk. Always. That creamy, lightly sweet, satisfying flavor that makes you happy before going to sleep like a goodnight story 😉

I don’t think I ever blogged about it, but I’m lactose sensitive: it’s not an allergy or a medically diagnosed intolerance. It just happens that if I drink too much milk or heavy dairy food (i.e. a nice glass full of whole milk or a burrata) my belly starts blowing like I’m pregnant again… very pregnant, like 8 months 😉

A few weeks ago I was shopping at Trader Joe’s and I noticed a new product: a2 Milk®. It is fresh real milk, but easier to digest thanks to the absence of A1 protein.

The milk produced by ordinary cows contains two kinds of proteins: A1 and A2. Recent studies are showing that A1 protein can be directly linked to dairy digestive discomfort. At a2 Milk® they found a way to select cows that naturally produce only A2 protein and not A1. That means that a2 Milk® doesn’t contain A1 protein, making it easier to digest.

I’ve been drinking a2 Milk® for the past two weeks and I’ve been very satisfied: no more “pregnant belly” and, finally, only one carton of milk in the refrigerator for both the kids and me 😉 img_7409

It’s so nice to be able to enjoy the recipes with milk that I prepare for my kids, like this chocolate & banana smoothie, without worrying about annoying “side effects” 😉 img_7402 choco-banana-smoothie5

To make the chocolate banana smoothie in less than 10 minutes you will need:

3 medium ripe bananas, sliced and frozen

3/4 cup a2 Milk®

1/2 cup vanilla yogurt

2 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder

1 tablespoon honey

Simply place all ingredients in a blender and mix until smooth. Garnish with sliced bananas and chocolate chips if desired. Serve immediately and enjoy!! choco-banana-smoothie choco-banana-smoothie2 choco-banana-smoothie3 img_7374

I hope this post was helpful to you; I always like to share my opinion about new healthy products that I tried and tested for my family and myself.

If you are interested in learning more about a2 Milk®, please check them out on their Website, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and Pinterest.

You can also get an a2 Milk® $1 Off Coupon to try it out.

Disclosure: This blog post is sponsored by a2 Milk®. All thoughts and opinions are 100% my own.

 

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What is your kids’ favorite fast & easy after school snack? Leave me your answer in the comment area below and you will enter the change to win a $100 Visa gift card.

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73 Comments

Did you make this recipe? Share the love, tag @buonapappa on Instagram and hashtag it #buonapappa I would love to see your creations!

  • Reply
    Natalie
    December 5, 2016 at 8:01 pm

    My niece’s favorite fast & easy after school snack is apples with peanut butter! She loves the peanut butter with honey kind.

  • Reply
    Natalie
    December 5, 2016 at 8:03 pm

    tweet https://twitter.com/yarbr012/status/805865091996520449

  • Reply
    Elena
    December 5, 2016 at 8:59 pm

    Our favorite snack is yogurt

  • Reply
    Kelly D
    December 6, 2016 at 12:31 am

    My daughter likes yogurt or fruit after school.

  • Reply
    Kelly D
    December 6, 2016 at 12:31 am

    tweet
    https://twitter.com/Kellydpa/status/805932697126375425

  • Reply
    mami2jcn
    December 6, 2016 at 2:52 am

    Apples and yogurt!

  • Reply
    mami2jcn
    December 6, 2016 at 2:53 am

    tweet–https://twitter.com/mami2jcn/status/805968438908846081

  • Reply
    Julie Wood
    December 6, 2016 at 12:20 pm

    My kids love pizza, fruit, cheese, or smoothies for an after school snack!

  • Reply
    Julie Wood
    December 6, 2016 at 12:21 pm

    tweet-https://twitter.com/JewelWood/status/806111188945760256

  • Reply
    Jessie C.
    December 6, 2016 at 6:11 pm

    My kids love fruit smoothies for after school snack.
    tcarolinep at gmail dot com

  • Reply
    Jessie C.
    December 6, 2016 at 6:11 pm

    tweet-https://twitter.com/tcarolinep/status/806198899610238976

  • Reply
    Sabrina
    December 9, 2016 at 6:46 pm

    Looks yummy and easy to prepare, ideal for my super picky kid. Thanks for the info about this milk, I am gonna check it out!

  • Reply
    Madeline
    December 9, 2016 at 7:35 pm

    My daughter likes to snack on bananas, pears, or kiwis.

  • Reply
    Madeline
    December 9, 2016 at 7:35 pm

    Tweet link: https://twitter.com/shala_darkstone/status/807307766893281280

  • Reply
    Cristina
    December 10, 2016 at 12:38 am

    My kids favourite snack after school is what we call The Superbanana .
    A banana cut lengthwise, some almond butter spread on top , a sprinkle of our favourite cereals and a drizzle of honey or mapple syrup. Yum!
    Love your blog Barbara, you inspire me to be a better mama in the kitchen!

  • Reply
    Mylene
    December 11, 2016 at 3:34 am

    I never heard about this milk and I’ll definitely get it ! My kids favorite snacks are smoothies, rice pudding , fruit, milk with cereals, frozen yogurt. Thanks barbara !

  • Reply
    Mita
    December 18, 2016 at 9:43 pm

    Yogurt and bananas.

  • Reply
    Rebecca W
    December 19, 2016 at 3:50 am

    My kids eat a lot of apples and oranges. I also like to bake treats for them like biscuits to eat with butter and jelly.

  • Reply
    Rebecca W
    December 19, 2016 at 3:51 am

    Tweet
    https://mobile.twitter.com/Michael64263870

  • Reply
    Jeffrey
    December 21, 2016 at 9:15 pm

    My kids favorite after school snack is celery with peanut butter and raisins.

  • Reply
    Jeffrey
    December 21, 2016 at 9:16 pm

    I posted a tweet: https://twitter.com/FireRunner2379/status/811681595237273600.

  • Reply
    Kenia
    December 22, 2016 at 5:31 am

    My girls love a mango smoothie after school.

  • Reply
    Kenia
    December 22, 2016 at 5:33 am

    I tweeted…

    https://twitter.com/YamiYali/status/811806379413479424

  • Reply
    LAMusing
    December 22, 2016 at 6:19 am

    I don;t have kids. My fave snack is plain yogurt with honey and walnuts.

  • Reply
    LAMusing
    December 22, 2016 at 6:19 am

    tweeted – https://twitter.com/LAMusing/status/811818463404511232

  • Reply
    Elizabeth pergande
    December 27, 2016 at 7:02 pm

    their favorite snack would be to drink it with chocolate chip cookies. truckredford at Gmail Dot COm

  • Reply
    Elizabeth pergande
    December 27, 2016 at 7:07 pm

    https://twitter.com/eliza_elliott/status/813821954025279493

  • Reply
    rosemary
    December 29, 2016 at 1:19 pm

    wow

  • Reply
    Susan Smith
    December 30, 2016 at 1:46 am

    My kids love to eat yogurt and apples as an after school snack.

  • Reply
    Susan Smith
    December 30, 2016 at 1:47 am

    https://twitter.com/susan1215/status/814649054588243968

  • Reply
    kjasus
    December 30, 2016 at 2:47 am

    my son loves popcorn

  • Reply
    Seyma Shabbir
    December 30, 2016 at 11:13 pm

    My kids love to snack on a bowl of cereal but I try to push fruits, cheeses or even a sandwich!

  • Reply
    Seyma Shabbir
    December 30, 2016 at 11:14 pm

    https://twitter.com/SeymaShabbir/status/814972822346940417

  • Reply
    Jean Greener
    December 30, 2016 at 11:44 pm

    Looking forward to trying A2 Milk for my son. He had a sensitive stomach and difficult with digestion @JeanGMike

    • User Avatar
      Reply
      Barbara Lamperti
      December 30, 2016 at 11:48 pm

      I’ve been drinking a2Milk for more than a month now and I am very very happy. No more annoying side effects 😉 I hope it works for your son too!! Let me know, ciao! b

  • Reply
    Lisa Brown
    December 31, 2016 at 2:03 pm

    bananas or other fruit, granola, or yogurt.

  • Reply
    Lisa Brown
    December 31, 2016 at 2:04 pm

    tweet-https://twitter.com/LuLu_Brown24/status/815196905869230085

  • Reply
    Elle
    December 31, 2016 at 3:53 pm

    Banana with peanut butter – it’s a quick and easy snack.

  • Reply
    Elle
    December 31, 2016 at 4:00 pm

    Tweet: https://twitter.com/PrettyHotPink6/status/815226056172941314

  • Reply
    Terry
    December 31, 2016 at 8:59 pm

    My grandkids love fruit for an after school snack. I usually buy cut up fruit from the grocery store as it is so much easier and no waste.

  • Reply
    Terry
    December 31, 2016 at 9:00 pm

    Tweeted-https://twitter.com/birdiebee52/status/815301507285450752?lang=en

  • Reply
    Stephanie Phelps
    January 2, 2017 at 2:24 am

    My kids fast and easy snack is peanut butter and banana on pita bread!

  • Reply
    Stephanie Phelps
    January 2, 2017 at 2:24 am

    I tweeted
    https://twitter.com/my4boysand1/status/815745340137676800

  • Reply
    Ellie Wright
    January 2, 2017 at 7:48 am

    My kids’ favorite is a bowl of cereal and this would be great in it.

  • Reply
    Ellie Wright
    January 2, 2017 at 7:48 am

    Tweeted

    https://twitter.com/eswright18/status/815826785392795649

  • Reply
    Tina W
    January 3, 2017 at 8:09 am

    We love cinnamon toast with milk for after school snacks.

  • Reply
    Tina W
    January 3, 2017 at 8:12 am

    tweeted: https://twitter.com/tinawoo21/status/816195360339030016

  • Reply
    Sarah L
    January 4, 2017 at 6:15 am

    No kids. My favorite snack is peanut butter on a banana.
    Thanks for the contest.

  • Reply
    Sarah L
    January 4, 2017 at 6:23 am

    https://twitter.com/slehan/status/816530263001812992

    • Reply
      Sarah L
      January 4, 2017 at 6:56 am

      this tweet didn’t have the right stuff, so please delete it. Next post is good one.

  • Reply
    Sarah L
    January 4, 2017 at 6:55 am

    https://twitter.com/slehan/status/816538322960977920

  • Reply
    Linda
    January 5, 2017 at 2:02 am

    They love peanut butter sandwiches!

  • Reply
    Linda
    January 5, 2017 at 2:03 am

    Tweet https://twitter.com/Lindiac/status/816827213173714945

  • Reply
    Thomas Murphy
    January 5, 2017 at 5:13 am

    My son likes peanut butter crackers.

  • Reply
    Thomas Murphy
    January 5, 2017 at 5:14 am

    tweeted
    https://twitter.com/thomasmurphy40/status/816875415016968192

  • Reply
    Debbie B
    January 5, 2017 at 5:22 am

    My nieces love peanut butter and apples for an after school snack

  • Reply
    Debbie B
    January 5, 2017 at 5:25 am

    i posted a tweet here:

    https://twitter.com/purplepanda1966/status/816877944207474688

  • Reply
    Barbara Montag
    January 6, 2017 at 12:55 am

    The kids love hummus and pretzels for an after school snack.
    thank you

  • Reply
    Barbara Montag
    January 6, 2017 at 12:55 am

    Tweet https://twitter.com/JalapenoMama/status/817172348767965185

  • Reply
    Heidi B
    January 6, 2017 at 12:58 am

    They love a glass of milk with sliced apples, nut butter and popcorn.

  • Reply
    Heidi B
    January 6, 2017 at 12:59 am

    Twitter Entry https://twitter.com/zanderbear/status/817173536917823493

  • Reply
    Jason
    January 6, 2017 at 12:59 am

    My niece loves celery and peanut butter

  • Reply
    Jason
    January 6, 2017 at 1:01 am

    Tweet- https://twitter.com/jwats1127/status/817173777867882496

  • Reply
    Christine Labelle
    January 6, 2017 at 1:20 am

    My kids love chocolate grams with peanut butter.

  • Reply
    Stefanie G
    January 6, 2017 at 1:30 am

    they love cheese & apples! or crackers and cheese

  • Reply
    Stefanie G
    January 6, 2017 at 1:31 am

    tweeted https://twitter.com/stephcouponsxx/status/817181774795182084

  • Reply
    Kristen
    January 7, 2017 at 10:59 pm

    We like to have apples with peanut butter.

  • Reply
    Kristen
    January 7, 2017 at 11:00 pm

    tweeted
    https://twitter.com/rubylorikeet/status/817868440362848256

  • Reply
    janetfaye
    January 15, 2017 at 3:49 am

    My kids like raisins or apples for after school snacks.

  • Leave a Reply to Cristina Cancel Reply