This shop is part of a social shopper marketing insight campaign with Pollinate Media Group® and Nestle, but all my opinions are my own. #pmedia  #BreakfastEssentials
Remember last week when I made that hummus by hand and told you I didn’t own a food processor or blender? Well, guess what. I got a food processor AND blender this weekend! It’s really one appliance that has both attachments, so now I’m going to be chopping and blending everything in sight. (I actually chopped my finger on the blender blade the first time I got it out of the dishwasher, but I’m hoping to stick to only blending food going forward.) Just think of the healthy smoothies I can make now! Kale and apple all around! Oh, except one thing. My kids don’t even want to be in the same room as a green smoothie. My littlest one’s favorite color is green, so maybe I could get him on board, but my oldest is not having it. Looks like I need to get creative. 
I grew up drinking Carnation Instant Breakfast in the mornings. There is nothing better than calling a tall glass of chocolate milk breakfast. OK, actually there is something better: Calling a tall chocolate milkshake breakfast! That’s what my boys called these protein smoothies, and they had no idea what a nutritious beverage they were slurping down. 
Carnation Breakfast Essentials is packed with 21 vitamins and minerals, 13 grams of protein, plus calcium on its own, so just stirring a packet into milk is a great way to start your day. With this chocolate smoothie, I also added more protein with Greek yogurt and threw in avocado for some healthy fats too. A filling breakfast is so important for kids when they are headed off to school, especially since mine often don’t eat much at lunch. 
I picked up the variety pack of Breakfast Essentials at Safeway, and with all these flavors and my blender, the possibilities are endless! I can’t wait to make strawberry and vanilla breakfast shakes too, and my personal favorite flavor has always been chocolate malt. I think I’ll be hiding the chocolate malt packets and making myself Coffee Chocolate Malt Shakes for a treat after the boys leave for school! You can find lots more recipe ideas at the Carnation site. You can follow them on Facebook too for games, recipes, and more!
| Prep Time | 5 minutes |
| Servings |
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- 2 packets Dark Chocolate Carnation Breakfast Essentials Powder
- 1/2 avocado
- 3/4 c. plain Greek yogurt
- 1 1/4 c. milk
- 2 tsp. agave nectar optional
- 1 c. ice cubes
Ingredients
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Rate this recipe!
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- Place all ingredients into a blender. Cover and mix according to your blender's instructions until ice is crushed and mixture is smooth.
- Serve in two glasses with straws.
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Gloria Ruddle says
Wow! Who would have thunk it! Lol! These sound so good & healthy too! My grand kids like Carnation instant breakfast. I’m sure this will just put it over the top to where they will “love” it! Thanks for another weeks worth of scrumptious recipes. I’ll be making this one for sure!
Andi says
Glad you like it, Gloria! The avocado makes it really thick and creamy, and you don’t even know it’s in there. Have a great weekend!
Cheryl says
I’d love it if you would share your recipe on this week’s The Yuck Stops Here link party which starts tomorrow (Tuesday, May 6th) and ends Sunday evening at 8pm ET! Hope to see you there! HUGS
Andi says
Hi, Cheryl! Thanks so much for the invite. I’ll try to stop by!
Jenn @ Deliciously Sprinkled says
I LOVE smoothies and I love any reason to have chocolate for breakfast! :)
Andi says
Me too! Thank you, Jenn!
Ashley | Spoonful of Flavor says
Haha, I love that you call it incognito avocado! I love hiding fresh veggies in recipes. I also love how the avocado thickens the smoothie. Great recipe, Andi!
Andi says
Thank you, Ashley! Yes, it did a great job of thickening it up, and the boys never knew it was there ;)
Lauren @ Healthy Delicious says
I love sneaking avocado into smoothies!
Andi says
Thanks, Lauren! I’ll be trying it more often for sure.
[email protected] says
What a great idea! I love the idea of the hidden avocado too! Can’t wait to try these out on my boys.
Andi says
Thanks, Meaghan! I hope you and all your boys enjoy them too :)
Carol at Wild Goose Tea says
I think you succeeded in ‘plumping’ up this drink, making a little thicker. Apparently that worked with your boys. I agree they are darling. It looks like the older boy has green eyes? I always wanted green eyes. I suppose I could get contacts, but I have trouble putting things in my eyes. I can go to the dentist just fine, but come anywhere near me with eye drops and I am in trouble. As to green which is a color I am quite fond of, I get suspicious of green smoothies too.
Andi says
Hi, Carol! My oldest has blue eyes, and they are very striking. My husband has green eyes. Mine and my youngest son’s are plain old brown ;)
Jen @ Yummy Healthy Easy says
How DARLING are your boys?!! They are so cute! Nothing better than tricking your kids into eating a healthy breakfast. ;) Love this smoothie and your pictures, Andi! Pinned!
Andi says
Thank you, Jen! I couldn’t get one photo of both of them looking cute, so I had to put two together. One is inevitably moving/blurry in every picture! I’m so excited to have a blender now. I need to go to raid your site for more smoothie recipes ;)