Gerard Piqué’s favourite recipe: Banana and date smoothie

Ingredients:

• 1 banana
• 3 soaked dates
• 3 almonds
• 4 g cocoa powder
• 1 g vanilla extract
• 1 g cinnamon
• 1/2 cup ice cubes
• 250 ml milk

We're giving you a hand during confinement so that you eat like a champion. At the Barça Innovation Hub, we have selected some of the recipes which we use to take care of the physical state of our athletes, for you. Each of them is designed to help you achieve your goals, and we have adapted one to serve you in this very special situation. It will also fill you with energy and good cheer.

When should you drink it?

After your daily exercise routine.

The banana and date smoothie is very easy to prepare and its ingredients are available in most stores. Dates last for a long time without spoiling, and are ideal both for long-term storage in your pantry and for their nutritional properties. With the banana you will have one of the five daily servings of fruits and vegetables recommended in a healthy diet. The taste of cocoa also makes this recipe very palatable. You can modify it to better adapt to your needs, or those of others who are at home.

How does this smoothie nourish you?

Banana provides your body with minerals such as potassium, and substances that provide mental well-being, such as tryptophan. Cocoa is an interesting source of antioxidants whilst magnesium benefits both our body and the neurons in our brain.

• Gives you power = banana energy + calcium + magnesium + potassium
• Improve your agility and coordination = antioxidants from cocoa + magnesium + tryptophan
• You gain strength = high-value milk protein + calcium

Adapt it to your goal...

Depending on your own diet, your daily activity, or your needs, you can add more or less milk to this smoothie. It provides quality protein and calcium for our muscles and bones, and can be used whole, semi-skimmed or skimmed, with or without lactose, and without losing the properties of the recipe. Vegans, or those who find milk difficult to digest, can substitute soy, oat, or coconut milk for a vegetable drink.

... and also to your palate

Those with a sweet tooth can reduce the bitterness of pure cocoa by adding more dates instead of sugar. Lovers of the strongest flavours should use a smaller amount of dates.

With less calories

If you are on a diet or are afraid of gaining weight after spending so much time without going out, use only half a banana. Substitute whole milk for semi-skimmed or skimmed milk.

Keep taking care of yourself.

For those who can’t wait for our next recipe, you can discover more healthy meals on the website Eat Like a Pro:

* This article was written by Maria Antonia Lizarraga and Mireia Porta.