Sneaky Shamrock Smoothie

A healthy way to start your St. Patrick’s Day festivities….or a healthy way to start your day! This Sneaky Shamrock Smoothie is a riff on the popular Shamrock Shake, the green color is added naturally without any added dyes or food coloring. Your kids will never know what’s in it.

I never tried a Shamrock Shake. I think in my whole life I’ve never even tasted one. I think it was the neon green color and when they started putting the neon red cherry on top that just screamed artificial movie food prop. It didn’t even look real. As much as I wanted to be part of the Shamrock Shake crowd….it just never appealed to me and I would order large fries instead. I know, the fries were probably worse but they looked much more like food. In my opinion. No need to tell me more about the fries.

I don’t know all the facts on food dyes and colorings…I know a lot of people avoid them like the plague for a variety of reasons. I just try to keep them out of my food as much as possible, with the occasional exceptions like holiday cookies and cupcake frosting.

Another happy accident, this Sneaky Shamrock Smoothie gets its light green color from spinach. Just a small amount of it gives a regular banana smoothie it’s beautiful shamrock hue. And the added nutrients from the spinach make a regular banana smoothie that much more healthy. And trust me when I say…..you can’t even taste it. Seriously. It’s like magical. You’re kids will be consuming spinach and won’t even know it.

It takes minutes to make and only takes 6 ingredients. Make sure you have a frozen banana on hand and DON’T just throw a whole peeled banana in the freezer….like I did. It’s quite an adventure to try to peel it and then the frozen peel will thaw on your countertop….turn to mush and become one with the counter if you don’t clean it up immediately. My suggestion is to peel a few bananas and freeze them in their own individual freezer bags for quick smoothie making on a busy morning.

This recipe makes one thick and creamy Sneaky Shamrock Smoothie that’s tasty and filling, don’t save this one just for St. Patrick’s Day. You can be sneaky like a leprechaun any day of the year!

Sneaky Shamrock Smoothie

Makes 1 smoothie

1/2 cup lightly packed fresh baby spinach

1/2 cup low fat milk

3/4 cup fat-free plain greek yogurt (I use Chobani)

1 whole frozen peeled banana

1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract

1 tablespoon honey or agave nectar

In the pitcher of a blender, puree the spinach and milk until blended completely. (No spinach bits remaining.) Add the yogurt, banana, vanilla and honey or agave and puree until smooth. Serve immediately.