Healthy Shamrock Shake

This healthy shamrock shake has only 280 calories! That’s far less than McDonald’s version with 500 calories. Plus, it’s packed with nearly 30 grams of protein!

Saint Patrick’s Day is known for corned beef and cabbage. But what if you’re craving something sweet? In this recipe, I’ll show you how to make a healthy shamrock shake that’s high in protein.

Don’t get me wrong – I love the original shamrock shake from McDonald’s. The only problem is that it’s loaded with calories and sugar. A size small has 500 calories, 14g fat, 82g carbs, and only 11g protein.

There’s also a whopping 63g of sugar! Studies have proven that eating too much sugar can be a bad thing. In the short-term it can contribute to acne, weight gain, and tiredness.

But long-term sugar consumption increases the risk of chronic diseases. That’s why I designed this homemade shamrock shake recipe that won’t weigh you down after drinking it.

Ingredients

Low calorie ice cream: Every delicious milk shake starts with the ice cream. But that’s where junk can really start to add up. The mint chocolate chip ice cream I’m using only has 80 calories per serving.

Fat free milk: Selecting the right milk is another important step. One cup of fat free milk has an additional 13g of protein. It will also give the shake a smooth and creamy texture.

Whey protein: Half a scoop of unflavored whey concentrate will also add about 13g of protein. I didn’t opt for a full scoop, because I thought it could impact the flavor. Plus, this is more than enough protein for the average person.

Sugar free chocolate chips: One tablespoon of sugar free chocolate chips is the perfect topping for this healthy shamrock shake. They taste identical to the regular version without all the added sugar.

Food coloring (optional): Green food coloring isn’t necessary, but it can help make a fun holiday themed drink. The mint ice cream I found just wasn’t green enough, so I decided to add in a little food coloring.

Instructions

Making this healthy shamrock shake is quick and easy. You can scroll down to the recipe card for more detailed instructions. Here’s an overview of the general steps:

Put milk, ice cream, protein powder, half of the chocolate chips, and green food coloring into a blender. Make sure you screw the lid on tightly to prevent a mess.

Blend on high for 30 seconds, or until the ingredients are thoroughly mixed. If you have a high-quality blender, the machine will require less time to mix everything together.

Transfer the shake into a glass and add the remaining chocolate chips. You can add fat free whipped topping for additional flavor and drink with a straw (like the original version).

Frequently Asked Questions

• Do I have to add protein?

No, you don’t need to add protein to this healthy shamrock shake recipe. But doing so can help satisfy your appetite, because protein will keep you full for a longer period of time.

• How much sugar does this have?

This healthy shamrock shake only has 6 grams of sugar. The version from McDonald’s has 63 grams of sugar for a size small! This comes down to using ingredients that are better for you.

• How many calories are in a McDonald’s Shamrock Shake?

A size small has 500 calories, a size medium has 540 calories, and a size large has 800 calories. This healthy shamrock shake recipe only has 280 calories!

• Why is the Shamrock Shake so sweet?

The main reason why McDonald’s Shamrock Shake is so sweet is that it’s loaded with sugar. When further examining the ingredients, we can see that it’s also packed with flavored syrup and high-fructose corn syrup.