It’s that time of the year again, Shamrock Shake Season! I’ve always loved it’s creamy, minty favor and for a very long time, seasonally indulged once or twice. But as my healthy eating has evolved, there’s been less room for these types of cheats, so I made my own DELICIOUS & Healthy Shamrock Shake {Paleo, Dairy-Free & Vegan}  version that is so good for me that I can enjoy one whenever I want!
Many of us are blissfully ignorant when it comes to what’s really in the foods we eat, here’s the full list of the ingredients in the four components of a Shamrock Shake from McDonald’s website.
What’s in a Shamrock Shake
1) Vanilla Reduced Fat Ice Cream
Milk, sugar, cream, nonfat milk solids, corn syrup solids, mono- and diglycerides, guar gum, dextrose, sodium citrate, artificial vanilla flavor, sodium phosphate, carrageenan, disodium phosphate, cellulose gum, vitamin A palmitate.
2) Shamrock Shake Syrup
High fructose corn syrup, corn syrup, water, sugar, natural flavor (plant source), xanthan gum, citric acid, sodium benzoate (preservative), yellow 5, blue 1.
3) Whipped Cream
Cream, nonfat milk, water, corn syrup, sugar, high fructose corn syrup, mono-and diglycerides, carrageenan, polysorbate 80, beta carotene (color), natural (dairy and vegetable source) and artificial flavor, mixed tocopherols (vitamin E) to protect flavor. Whipping Propellant (nitrous oxide).
4) Maraschino Cherry
Cherries, water, corn syrup, high fructose corn syrup, sugar, malic acid, citric acid, natural (plant source) and artificial flavors, sodium benzoate and potassium sorbate (preservatives), red 40, sulfur dioxide as preservative (contains sulfites).
For something that seems so simple, these are a heck of a lot of ingredients that I can’t even pronounce and certainly don’t want in my body. Remember, friends: Our bodies were designed to eat real foods. Don’t put yours to the test to see what it does with non-food items and chemicals, like those found listed above. Chances are, you won’t like the end results, and in my personal opinion, it just isn’t worth it.
With just a few simple real-food ingredients, tossed into your blender, you can have a Healthy Shamrock Shake any time of the day. And if you add a couple scoops of protein powder {I suggest collagen peptides or pea protein if you are vegetarian/vegan}, it’s a great meal replacement chock-full of healthy protein! For a real treat, top it with lots of my dairy-free, coconut whipped cream!
Ingredients
- 1/2 banana, frozen use green tipped if 21DSD
- 1/2 avocado
- 1 cup Ice
- 1 cup coconut milk (canned) or other milk of your choice
- 1 cup baby spinach
- 1/2 teaspoon Vanilla
- 2 drops Peppermint Essential Oil to taste
Optional Add in (protein)
- 2 scoops collagen peptides or pea protein
Instructions
- Combine banana, ice, spinach, vanilla, peppermint essential oil, avocado, and coconut milk in your blender and blend until smooth.
- Top with coconut milk whipped cream, if desired!
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