Make It: Healthy Shamrock Shake

We pass a McDonalds on the way to and from school. Each March the kids notice the Shamrock Shake sign and ask if we can stop. I say, “Let’s make our own and add chocolate chips!” We make healthy mint chocolate chip smoothies all the time but somehow making them green is more special, so I added some fresh baby spinach. You can’t taste the spinach and you get to add a veggie. Drop the following into a blender, mix well, and enjoy!

Ingredients

•  Two bananas, peeled and frozen (three if you are using apple bananas)

• A drop or two of mint extract

• A large handful of fresh baby spinach (about 1 c. packed)

• 2 tbsp. chocolate chips

• 1/2 - 1 cup milk

Directions

1. Put the ingredients in a blender and add enough milk to fill the blender 1/3 to 1/2 way. Half way full will result in easier blending, but a thinner smoothie. Blend well.

2. Go less healthy and substitute several Thin Mint or Mint Oreo cookies for the chocolate chips. 

3. Make this dairy-free by substituting almond or soy milk and check that your chocolate chips are dairy-free. 

Want to try another Irish treat? Here’s our recipe for Irish Soda Bread.