Healthy Shamrock Shake for St. Patrick’s Day
I am Irish so one of our big holidays is just around the corner! After you enjoy your corned beef and cabbage (full of pre and probiotics by the way), consider a healthy Shamrock Smoothie as your dessert!
Here is a healthy take on the infamous McDonald’s Shamrock concoction that has 54 ingredients in each shake. Can we call that food? Their version relies on artificial green food coloring, artificial flavors and loads of high fructose corn syrup. Yet even the healthiest eaters rave about how they splurge on this once a year treat from the Golden Arches.
In our yummy treat, we “hide” some green vegetables that give it color and peppermint extract to add the Irish flavor. Spinach contains high amounts of vitamins A, C, and K as well as folate and some B vitamins. Spinach is also a good source of minerals like iron, magnesium and potassium. It blends right in this tasty smoothie.
Some people may find it strange to add avocado to a smoothie, but this fruit adds a creamy texture and healthy fats. One avocado contains the full daily value of Vit K and folate and most of the B5, B6, C and E needed. And avocado increases the bioavailability of the anti-inflammatory nutrients in spinach.
Remember, food is a messenger on a cellular level, signaling pathways in our body. Fill up on good stuff. We want to send the “right” signals!
May the luck of the Irish be with you this weekend! Happy St. Patrick’s Day!
Yours in Health,
Tracy
HEALTHY SHAMROCK SHAKE
1 cup coconut/almond milk
½ avocado – peeled
½ cup raw spinach
½ frozen banana
½ tsp spirulina
¼ tsp mint extract
1 TBSP flax seed – ground
1 – 2 TBSP maple syrup or honey
¼ cup of ice
Blend in a Vitamix or similar blender on high for 1-2 minutes.
TIP – My son liked it better with a scoop of vanilla ice cream added! Adults could add a 1 tsp of Maca powder. Maca is an adaptogen with hormone balancing properties!
