Chocolate Muscle Building Smoothie with Collagen

Written by Emma Mattison, NASM Certified Personal Trainer, Nutrition Coach, Functional Aging Specialist, and MS(c) Exercise Physiology. Founder of the Academy of Superior Online Coaching (ASOC).

*Disclosure: I only recommend products I would use myself and all opinions expressed here are our own. This post may contain affiliate links that at no additional cost to you, I may earn a small commission. Read full privacy policy here.

"Delicious, healthy, muscle building AND good for your tendon and ligament health!"

As a sweet tooth and former emotional eater, I've had my fair share of smoothies and shakes. I used to live on a Starbucks frappuccino a day (or two...) running at 630 Calories (or MORE) of mostly sugar. After committing to my own health, and becoming a certified nutrition coach, I've developed an excellent workout recovery and breakfast smoothie that:

1. Satisfies the sweet-tooth.

2. Provides valuable nutrients such as healthy fats and proteins for muscle repair.

3. Helps tendon and ligament health with an appropriate dose of collagen.

4. Keeps Calories under 400 kcals per serving (serving size about 12-16 oz)

5. Only has 6 grams of total sugars! (6 grams net carbs)

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Jump to Nutrition Facts

So when it came to prevailing against my emotional eating and fitting in my healthy dosage of protein and fiber, I think it's safe to say I found a winner with this smoothie. There is some hot debate about the usage of collagen, and I'll just say this: collagen has research to support that its supplementation can help with tendon, ligament, skin, hair, and nail health. However, it will NOT help with muscle growth. That's why I use a blend of two different delicious supplements. I'll attach links to the specific proteins and collagen I use, as the brand definitely does make a difference.

Here's the recipe below! Enjoy!

Ingredients

• 1/3 cup of ice cubes (about 3-4)

• water (amount varries)

• 2 scoops of SunWarrior Warrior Blend Chocolate protein powder

• 1/2 scoop of Dr. Axe's Ancient Nutrition Chocolate Bone Broth Collagen Protein powder

• 1 tbsp sugar-free peanut butter or other nut butter (almond butter, sun-butter, etc.)

• OPTIONAL 1/4 cup of frozen blueberries (or less if desired)

• OPTIONAL 1 leaf of kale or 1/4 cup of spinach

Instructions

1. Add ice and nut butter to blender, and optional ingredients listed.

2. Fill with enough water to cover ice & nut butter, then add protein powder.

3. No need for sweetener, but if using a bland protein powder, add two teaspoons maple syrup or a dash of stevia.

4. Blend. Enjoy with a banana if desired and/ or tablespoon of granola.

Nutrition Facts

​Calories	​351 kcal
Protein	​47 g
Carbohydrates	13 g
Fats	13 g
Fiber	7 g
Sodium	592 mg
Sugar	6 g
Servings	1 (12-16 oz)

This makes for an excellent dessert, or a great snack! Remember, muscle building happens even up to 72 hours after focused strength training. So don't feel that you need to cram all your protein in 30 min after exercise! Enjoy these muscle building and tendon healing smoothies even on your rest days 🤗

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About the Author

Hi! I'm Emma Mattison. I’m a certified personal trainer (NASM), certified nutrition coach, Functional Aging Specialist, certified virtual coach, stretch & flexibility coach, pranayama breathwork guide, kettlebell trainer, and full-time holistic movement nerd. I'm also the founder of the Academy of Superior Online Coaching (ASOC)—because, yes, I like to stay busy and yes, I think trainers deserve better education than random PDFs and influencer vibes.

I specialize in functional fitness for adults 40+, especially those managing chronic conditions like fibromyalgia, arthritis, joint replacements, or multiple sclerosis. I believe strength, balance, and movement can be playful and scientific—and I live for making complex topics feel like a conversation, not a textbook.

I genuinely love diving into peer-reviewed research (yes, for fun), and my mission is to turn that science into practical, empowering tools you can actually use—whether you’re a client, a coach, or just curious.

My love for fitness really started with helping my best friend—who I now get to call my husband. He’s the reason my work feels so joyful (and why my YouTube channel, Emma Mattison Fitness, looks as polished as it does!). He edits all my content and is probably working on the next video as you’re reading this. Go give it a like if it’s helpful—we make these together, with real humans in mind. 😊😊

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