Living in Southern California my entire life, I grew up going to Palm Springs every Easter with my family. Every trip to palm springs always included a quick stop by the date gardens in Indio to get a date shake. Since you guys know I love “healthifying” comfort foods, today is the day for a Lightened Up Date Shake. Traditional date shakes consist of full fat vanilla ice cream, whole milk, and dates. My recipe still consists of 3 ingredients, but adds up to nearly a fraction of the calories! Plus it’s vegan, gluten-free, lactose-free, paleo, and low-fat!
A traidtional date shake adds up to:
Calories: 626
Fat: 25.3g
Sugar: 77.5g
Fiber: 4.5g
Protein: 13.2g
And my Lightened Up Date Shake totals:
Calories: 330
Fat: 1.25g
Sugar: 57.5g (all natural unrefined sugar)
Fiber: 8g
Protein: 3g
Not all sugars are created equal. Say a candy bar (refined sugar) has the same amount of sugar as a banana (natural sugar). They process through your body completely different. Whole fruit has a lot of fiber, which actually slows down your body’s digestion of glucose, so you don’t get the crazy insulin spike (and crash) that candy causes. That also means your body has more time to use up glucose as fuel before storing it… as fat.
That’s the #1 reason why I love using Medjool Dates as a sweetener in baking and other recipes versus regular table sugar!
Lightened Up Date Shake
Serves 1
3 Natural Delights Medjool Dates, pitted
1 frozen banana
1/2 cup unsweetened original almond milk
1/2 tsp vanilla extract
Remove pits from dates. Blend blend blend until smooth and creamy!
Tip: To make this more filling as a meal replacement, try adding 1/4 cup of dry rolled oats to the blender!
Huge thank you to Natural Delights for supplying the dates for this recipe!
Michelle
January 7, 2014 at 8:26 am (11 years ago)My parents recently purchased a house in Palm Springs and when I was out visiting they took me to the date farm in Indio. They told me I had to try a date shake, and I am hooked!! Can’t wait to go out again and get another one, but so excited to try this recipe to get my fix when I can’t go out there!! Thanks!!
Catherine
January 8, 2014 at 1:32 am (11 years ago)Date shakes are the bomb! And totally nostalgic to me!
Kristi
January 7, 2014 at 9:08 am (11 years ago)This looks really yummy! I have the almond date rolls on hand…do you think this recipe would work with those?
Catherine
January 8, 2014 at 1:31 am (11 years ago)Kristi, I think that would be delicious! Nothing wrong with some more almonds since there is almond milk! Let me know how it turns out 🙂
D @ The Kosher Cave Girl
January 7, 2014 at 9:38 am (11 years ago)Mmmmm. I could eat dates every day! And I love using them to make cookies and cakes (the natural sweetness is just the best), but I’ve never thought of adding them to my morning shakes! Yummy!
Catherine
January 8, 2014 at 1:30 am (11 years ago)Oh my gosh, it’s a must!
Kelly
January 7, 2014 at 5:02 pm (11 years ago)I don’t normally comment on blog posts but I just made this for dinner with the rolled oats and a handful of almonds – HOLY MOLEY was it good!!!!! Thanks for the recipe! So simple but so delicious – I’ll definitely be making it again!
Catherine
January 8, 2014 at 1:27 am (11 years ago)Awwww! I’m so excited you decided to comment! I love hearing from readers and am so glad you loved the shake! xo
Candace Anne
January 7, 2014 at 5:29 pm (11 years ago)Thanks! I will have to try this 🙂
Lilly
January 7, 2014 at 5:31 pm (11 years ago)I just went out to buy all the ingredients… can’t wait to try this! Thanks!!
Catherine
January 8, 2014 at 1:25 am (11 years ago)That’s great Lilly! Let me know what you think!
Lilly
January 9, 2014 at 8:35 pm (11 years ago)It.was.perfect!
CM
January 8, 2014 at 6:54 am (11 years ago)Yes!! Had my first of many date shakes in Indio!! I am thrilled to see this shake with much lower fat grams!! Thinking…summer breakfast!!
Kathryn
April 25, 2014 at 9:37 am (11 years ago)I just made this with regular dates, and OMG. This is fantastic. Thanks for sharing the recipe! 🙂
Catherine
April 25, 2014 at 11:49 am (11 years ago)I’m so happy you loved it! <3