Thursday, March 15, 2012

Superfood Shamrock Shake! (Dairy-free, vegan, raw)

I've been experimenting with spirulina because it's supposed to be so good for you.  To be honest, I think it tastes terrible.  However, I have come up with a great way to hide the taste in this WAY healthier-than-McDonalds Shamrock Shake!   It gets its green color from spirulina instead of green food coloring.



Superfood Shamrock Shake:
handful of nuts (I used pecans)
handful of pitted dates
1T spirulina powder
5-7 drops of peppermint extract
glass of water (about 2 cups)
2 cups of ice

Blend everything in a blender.  (I like to blend everything except the ice first, and then blend in the ice.)  Seriously, this tastes delicious!   Plus, it's SO much better for you than a Shamrock Shake from McD's.  It has about 350 calories per 16 oz serving and 20 grams of fat.  I know the fat is high (and about the same as the McD's), but it's good fat that comes from nuts, not saturated fat that comes from animals.

Just to compare, what's in a McDonald's Shamrock Shake?  For the 16 oz. size, it's 680 calories and 20 grams of fat.  By the way, the small (12 oz) it's 540 calories and 16 grams of fat; and for the large, it's 840 calories and 24 grams of fat.  Also, check out these ingredients.  (I got this info from McDonald's own site.)

What Vanilla Reduced Fat Ice Cream

Allergens: MILK
Milk, sugar, cream, nonfat milk solids, corn syrup solids, mono- and diglycerides, guar gum, dextrose, sodium citrate, artificial vanilla flavor, sodium phosphate, carrageenan, disodium phosphate, cellulose gum, vitamin A palmitate.

Shamrock Shake Syrup

High fructose corn syrup, corn syrup, water, sugar, natural flavor (plant source), xanthan gum, citric acid, sodium benzoate (preservative), yellow 5, blue 1.

Whipped Cream

Allergens: MILK
Cream, nonfat milk, water, corn syrup, sugar, high fructose corn syrup, mono-and diglycerides, carrageenan, polysorbate 80, beta carotene (color), natural (dairy and vegetable source) and artificial flavor, mixed tocopherols (vitamin E) to protect flavor. Whipping Propellant (nitrous oxide).

Maraschino Cherry

Cherries, water, corn syrup, high fructose corn syrup, sugar, malic acid, citric acid, natural (plant source) and artificial flavors, sodium benzoate and potassium sorbate (preservatives), red 40, sulfur dioxide as preservative (contains sulfites).

Woa! How many chemicals are in there?   

Sunday, January 1, 2012

2012 Resolutions

I have to say, I LOVE New Year's resolutions!  I know a lot of people who don't like them and never make them, but I really like the idea of starting fresh.  It gives me hope and energy to think that this year will be different.  Even if  I don't keep them, I think it's worth making them.

My New Year's Resolutions of 2012:

1.  I will walk for 30 minutes every morning.

2.  I will switch to a mainly plant-based diet, following this food pyramid.  (I saw 2 documentaries that have led to this one:  "Forks over Knives" and "Fat, Sick, and Nearly Dead".  Check them out.)

3.  I will have fresh juice or a green smoothie at least once a day.

4.  I will write to my Bosnian sister on the first of each month.  (I sponsor a Bosnian woman through Women for women.  I always send the money, but I'm ashamed to say I rarely write like I'm supposed to.)

5.  I will be the best mother I can possibly be.

6.  I will spend more time and energy on people, and less time and energy on things.

I also LOVE to read other people's resolutions (so I can steal the good ones).  What are yours?