Guilt Free Shamrock Shake

Happy Saint Patrick's Day!! It's a day to celebrate being Irish (even if you're not!), drink green beer and eat green foods. Another popular tradition? The McDonald's Shamrock Shake! You can't drive very far these days without seeing a McDonald's sign advertising their popular green shake but what you don't see is a sign telling you what's in it. It's full of empty calories, loaded with sugar and filled with a bunch of artificial ingredients! When you start really researching what you are putting into your body, you find out some alarming information. I did a little bit of research on this popular shake and here's what I found:

Nutritional Info

McDonald's Shamrock Shake

470 Calories

14g Total Fat (21% DV)
62g Total Carbs (21% DV)
10g Protein
Saturated Fat: 9g (44% DV)
Sugars: 65g

Ingredients

VANILLA REDUCED FAT ICE CREAM

Ingredients: Milk, Sugar, Cream, Corn Syrup, Natural Flavor, Mono and Diglycerides, Cellulose Gum, Guar Gum, Carrageenan, Vitamin A Palmitate.

Contains: MILK.

SHAMROCK SHAKE SYRUP

Ingredients: High Fructose Corn Syrup, Corn Syrup, Water, Sugar, Natural Flavor, Xanthan Gum, Citric Acid, Sodium Benzoate (Preservative), Yellow 5, Blue 1. May contain small amounts of other shake flavors served at the restaurant, including egg ingredients when Egg Nog Shakes are available.

WHIPPED TOPPING

Ingredients: Cream, Nonfat Milk, Corn Syrup, Sugar, High Fructose Corn Syrup, Contains 1% or Less: Mono-And Diglycerides, Carrageenan, Polysorbate 80, Beta Carotene (Color), Natural and Artificial Flavor, Mixed Tocopherols (Vitamin E) to Protect Flavor. Whipping Propellant (Nitrous Oxide).

Contains: MILK.

MARASCHINO CHERRY

Ingredients: Cherries, Water, Corn Syrup, High Fructose Corn Syrup, Sugar, Malic Acid, Citric Acid, Natural and Artificial Flavors, Sodium Benzoate and Potassium Sorbate (Preservatives), Red 40, Sulfur Dioxide as Preservative (Contains Sulfites).

GREEN SUGAR CRYSTALS

Ingredients: Sugar, Yellow 5 Lake, Confectioners Glaze, Blue 1 Lake, Carnauba Wax.

Suddenly that big green shake doesn't sound so appealing! No worries though, I got you! Here's a healthier option that will still have you clicking your heels and chasing after leprechauns without weighing you down with unnecessary and unhealthy extras!

Peppermint Patty Shake!

- 1 overripe large banana, peeled and frozen

- cacao nibs or chocolate chips

- 1/4 tsp pure peppermint extract (you can use more or less to your taste but make sure it's not imitation!)

- 1 cup unsweetened almond milk

optional: 1/4 cup frozen spinach

Blend everything in the blender and voila! A HEALTHY Peppermint Patty Shake.

Note: I use 1 scoop of my chocolate superfoods in lieu of the chocolate chips because the nutrition in that is AMAZING!!

Now for the numbers:

Calories: 150

Fat: 2.5g

Carbs: 32g