How to make a Berry red velvet smoothie for Valentine's Day

We absolutely love Valentine's Day. In between all the chocolates and goodies, you may want to make our Berry Red Velvet Smoothie. It's decadent, will give you an energy boost and get you glowing for your evening date. It's also ideal to make and share with a friend after a Valentine's Day gym class or spa date.

1/2 banana (ideally frozen)

1/4 beet (cut into pieces)

100-200 ml water

1 cup raspberries or strawberries (or mixed, also ideally frozen)

1/2 T raw cacao

Place the banana, beet and water in a blender. Blend for about 45 seconds. Then add the berries and 1/2 T of raw cacao powder and blend for another 30-45 seconds. You can also add vanilla powder or vanilla extract to really bring out the chocolate in the cacao powder. Feel free to add some extra cacao powder to make it super choclate-y and to swap out the banana for a pitted medjool date for some extra sweetness.

The beets in this smoothie are an amazing source of Vitamin C to help boost your immune system and are also rich in B vitamins to help energize you. Cacao also is a natural mood enhancer and amazing source of calcium. Berries are wonderful sources of antioxidants and easily digestible. The rich color of this smoothie is so perfectly festive!

Meryl Zises and Lily Rogath are the founders of Imbibery London