According to an NPR article, chocolate milk has been linked to faster muscle recovery if sipped during or after intense exercise. While that may be true, many schools are banning the beverage. Why? It is estimated that the frothy dark moo drink contains as much sugar as a can of Pepsi or Coke. Therefore it “doesn’t belong in schools”, say Ann Cooper, director of Food Services in Colorado at the Boulder Valley school district. Some refer to her as the renegade lunch lady.

Fear not, fellow chocolate milk lovers. Here I have posted a recipe for better chocolate milk, courtesy of (proud new mommy) Eva Rawposa. In her ebook: Uncooking 101-easy chocolate, (which you can snatch up for free here!) there is a recipe listed as *easiest Chocolate Milkshake ever*.

You’ll need: 1 1/2 cups ice, 2/3 cup Brazil nuts, 3 large bananas, 1 cup water, 2 Tablespoons cacao or carob powder, 1 teaspoon cinnamon (optional) and a Pinch sea salt. Toss all the ingredients into a blender, give it a nice long whirl and that’s it, you’re done! No hard or fast chef skills to master, just a tasty, chocolaty milkshake with no fattening dairy or ridiculous spoonfuls of sugar that you’d find in your standard carton of chocolate milk.

Bonus! One of the main ingredients in that recipe: brazil nuts, contains selenium, which is trace mineral that is essential for good health. Selenium is most notably helpful for joint health; tis’ the season for achy joints due to weather changes. Winter sports such as skiing and snowboarding are also a huge contributor to joint pain. So do your joints a favor and whip up this yummy homemade chocolate milk.