The Shameful Sham of Shamrock Shakes

Every March, McDonald’s releases its Shamrock Shake in dubious honor of St. Patrick’s Day. This dairy-and-syrup-heavy minty green beverage is supposed to make the month extra-festive. However, with 12 grams of saturated fat, nearly a quarter of your daily maximum cholesterol, and 660 calories, shake guzzlers will need the luck o’ the Irish to keep the jig in their step afterwards.

Using chemical coloring and corn syrup to make a high-cholesterol dairy item match the month’s color scheme? It’s enough to make a banshee wail! There are so many naturally green foods that are actually good for you. Green apples, kale, broccoli, pistachios, honeydew melon, kiwis—they all create a nutritional pot of gold.

With dairy’s connection to certain cancers, don’t try your luck with the Shamrock Shake. Instead, start spring off on the right foot with our Green Goddess Smoothie. Or for a more decadent treat, check out The Edgy Veg’s Vegan Mint Milkshake!

Green Goddess Smoothie

Makes 5 1-cup servings 1 orange, peeled 1 cup grapes 1 banana 1 pear, cored 1 cup soy, almond, or rice milk 2 cups fresh kale or spinach ice cubes (optional) Place all ingredients in the blender for 1 minute, or until desired smoothness is achieved. Add ice cubes, if using, and process further to desired temperature. Per 1-cup serving:

• Calories: 110
• Fat: 1.1 g
• Saturated Fat: 0.2 g
• Calories from Fat: 8.5%
• Cholesterol: 0 mg
• Protein: 3.1 g
• Carbohydrates: 24.5 g
• Sugar: 14.9 g
• Fiber: 3.8 g
• Sodium: 36 mg
• Calcium: 99 mg
• Iron: 1 mg
• Vitamin C: 33.1 mg
• Beta Carotene: 2464 mcg
• Vitamin E: 1.2 mg

Source: Katherine Lawrence, owner of www.plantbasedhealth.com