Healthier Shamrock Protein Shake

It’s Saint Patrick’s Day Season. Yes, season because when you live in Syracuse, NY – that is what it is. This time of year, you’ve probably seen some ads for McDonald’s Shamrock Shake. My recipe below makes about 24 ounces of shamrock shake, just a little bigger than McD’s 22 ounce size large shamrock shake and quite a bit healthier.

Their version packs in 800 calories, 20 grams of fat, 18 grams of protein, 103 grams of sugar with 84 grams of them being added sugar. The OG shamrock shake ingredients are: Milk, Sugar, Cream, Corn Syrup, Natural Flavor, Mono And Diglycerides, Cellulose Gum, Guar Gum, Carrageenan, Vitamin A Palmitate, High Fructose Corn Syrup, Water, Glycerin, Contains 2% Or Less: Natural Flavor, Xantham Gum, Citric Acid, Sodium Benzoate (preservative), Yellow 5, Blue 1.

My healthier shamrock shake is sweetened with dates and banana instead of sugar and high fructose corn syrup while sneaking in some fresh spinach you can’t even taste. This healthier shamrock shake contains 350 calories, 9 grams of fat, 24 grams of protein, 30 grams of sugar with 0 grams of them being added sugar. My version also contains 25% DV Vitamin D, 65% DV Calcium, 30% DV Iron, 165% DV Vitamin A, 60% DV Vitamin C.

I am not someone who is super into minty or mint chocolate stuff, but I cannot get enough of this shake as a dessert or sweet treat! I think I will be making it well outside of the St. Patrick’s Day Season!

Better For You Shamrock Protein Shake
Time: 5 Minutes

Ingredients:
2 dried dates, about 20 grams (Medjool are larger and sweeter than Noor dates but either will work)
1 Cup Plain Unsweetened Almond Milk
1 Handful of Baby Spinach, about 25 grams
1 Frozen Banana
1 Scoop Plain Whey Protein Powder, about 24 grams
1 Cup of Ice
1/4 Tsp Mint Extract
1/2 Tsp Vanilla Extract
Optional: 1 Tbsp Cacao Nibs

Instructions:
1. Break or cut the dates away from the pit and place in a microwave safe container with 1/2 cup of the almond milk. Microwave for 30 seconds and set aside. This will help soften the dates so they blend easier in the cold liquid!
2. In a high powered blender, add the remaining 1/2 up almond milk, baby spinach, frozen banana, whey, ice, mint and vanilla extract and the date/almond milk mixture.
3. Blend on high for one minute until smooth and well combined.
4. If using them, add in cacao nibs and blend for another 15 seconds, until nibs are broken down.

Pour into a large container and enjoy!

This isn’t your typical green smoothie or shamrock shake but I know you will love it as much as I do!