After eating, drinking and making a little too much merry, many of us start the new year with a clear-the-slate detox. A food-based detox begins by cutting out a lot of things we commonly eat: wheat, dairy, and meat, and boosting our nutritional intake and digestive function by eating several small meals a day that are rich in fruits, vegetables, and grains. A detox also means eliminating caffeine and alcohol – this is where my friends and I usually fail or fall short 😉 But my outlook is, if you fall off, just regroup and give it another shot – a healthy shot that is.
Last week I wrote about The Healthy Pantry and included a list of products to stock in your pantry so you can whip up healthy meals and snacks all year. Today, I’m sharing a simple recipe for a non-dairy Date Shake that will rock your world – or at least give you the energy required to face the day’s challenges head-on!
This shake contains not just one, but two, super foods. Dates are packed with nutrition and are a powerhouse of energy: one serving contains 31 grams of carbohydrates which makes them the perfect way to kick start your day or provide you with a healthy, energy boosting snack when you need an afternoon pick-me up. A serving of dates also contains 3 grams of dietary fiber and is an excellent source of vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants; namely your B-complex vitamins, potassium and the highest concentration of polyphenols among dried fruits.
Coconut milk contains many vitamins, minerals and electrolytes that help boost the immune system. Coconuts are a dietary staple in many countries around the world and are used medicinally to protect the body against an array of internal and external ailments. Coconut milk is a creamy dairy-free alternative for those who are lactose intolerant or allergic to animal milk. It’s also a vegan drink that is soy-free, gluten-free and nut-free.
Cool and refreshing date shakes are a summer road trip treat in Southern California. Here, coconut milk puts a fun tropical twist on a thick and creamy shake to be savored with a spoon, not a straw. I find the chewiness of the date chunks more satisfying than drinking a smoothie – if you prefer a smoother texture, puree the dates with a ½ cup of water before making your shake. Either way, you’re treating your body to instant energy and a huge dose of nutrition 🙂
- 1 cup chopped dates* about 8-10 dates depending on size
- 1 cup ice
- 1 cup light coconut milk
- 1 ripe banana
-
Fill the blender up to the 1 cup line with ice. Add the chopped dates and coconut milk. Blend the mixture until the ice and dates are fairly pureed - you'll still have chunks of dates. Add the banana and pulse to blend.
Enjoy 🙂 Your body thanks you!
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Twingirls926
January 26 at 6:49 pmThis is surprisingly great when you add an avocado
Renee Fontes
January 26 at 8:04 pmlooks so refreshing and creamy…the naughty me was thinking some rum would be pretty nice in there!
kelly von hemert
January 26 at 9:35 pmThe power garnish looks like a kingfisher going in for the kill, but the shake looks like my last-ditch remedy for too much risotto, charcuterie, vino, etc.! Must try tomorrow!
Roxan
January 26 at 9:37 pmThis looks delicious !It’s so funny the warm weather we’ve been having here. The photos you posted, it looks like they were taken in the summer.
Priscilla
January 26 at 9:46 pm@Renee – You’re bad 😉 Don’t tempt me!
@Kelly – Too funny! That was the only flower I had – but “power garnish” suits this high-energy shake 🙂
@Roxan – Yes, we’re so fortunate! The photos were taken this morning!
briarrose
January 27 at 5:50 amWonderful shake…..coconut and dates are a wonderful combination.
rebecca
January 27 at 6:14 amgreat shake not a fan of detox diets though as a dietitian lol, all about balance and wow love the snap with the bird of paradise nr the pool
Angie's Recipes
January 27 at 6:28 amI always love banana shake…this one with date and coconut added is calling my name :-))
torviewtoronto
January 27 at 8:48 amdelicious combination
Magic of Spice
January 27 at 9:05 amThat does look wonderful…detox is a good thing this time of year, but I would probably still sneak in a bit of brandy, lol
Kate @ Diethood.com
January 27 at 9:20 amI love the combination of flavors! And it’s a milk shake … what’s not to love. 🙂
5 Star Foodie
January 27 at 10:08 amThis sounds like a perfectly delicious and nutritious shake, love the dates and bananas here with the coconut milk!
Kimba's Kitchen
January 27 at 3:37 pmWowww!! This looks so refreshing!! And the thought of a coconut shake kinda reminds me of a Pina Colada.. heheheee 🙂
Nancy/SpicieFoodie
January 27 at 5:00 pmIf detoxing is this good then sign me up! Great recipe and a great alternative to coffee, plus nutritious well that’s just a winner all around.
cakewhiz
January 27 at 5:24 pmStunninggggg picture! I really hope it makes it to the top 9 🙂
I really like the sound of all the flavors in this shake and it looks so refreshing. Can’t wait till summer when i make this on those unbearably hot days!
Sandra
January 27 at 6:46 pmAmazing photos! And shake sounds wonderfully tasty!
[email protected]
January 27 at 8:19 pmGorgeous photos and a great twist on the every popular smoothie!! Will have to whip some of these up for my crew – it is the perfect after workout snack!!
Nourhan @ Miss Anthropist's Kitchen
January 28 at 10:26 amOh man this combination sounds INCREDIBLE! Such a great idea, thanks for sharing!
Ang
January 28 at 2:01 pmCan’t wait to try this. I’m not a big shake person, but this one seems like the perfect balance. And you don’t have that heavy ice cream feel when you get done. I’m assuming of course, because I haven’t tried it yet:) Looks great!
Tanantha @ I Just Love My Apron
January 28 at 2:53 pmSipping this drink by the pool sounds heavenly good Priscilla! I never tried dates for drink but would love to!
Victoria
January 28 at 5:38 pmHow beautiful! I personally love dates AND coconut milk, so this sounds like a great healthy drink for me! I just wish it was warm and I could sit by the pool drinking it 🙁 Boooooo!
Rosa
January 28 at 6:02 pmWhat a luscious milkshake! A droolworthy combo.
Cheers,
Rosa
Monet
January 28 at 9:27 pmNot only are dates and coconuts two superfoods…they are also two of my favorite foods! This looks like such a creamy indulgence. I love that it is healthy for you too! Thank you for sharing, sweetheart. I hope you have a happy Saturday. Hugs and love!
RavieNomNoms
January 31 at 12:31 pmThat shake sounds really really good! It is super pretty too! 🙂 Thanks for sharing the yummy looking milkshake!
FOODESSA
January 31 at 3:47 pmWell, how interesting. I do like these ingredients individually.
I really wonder if I could actually drink this combo.
Well, I’ll just have to give it my own swirl ;o)
Flavourful wishes,
Claudia
Jen
February 8 at 10:41 pmI made this for breakfast yesterday and it was really delicious! Loved that there was some bite to it with the dates.
Priscilla
February 8 at 10:53 pm@Jen – I loved the chewiness of the dates, too 🙂
Emily
February 23 at 7:12 pmOH yummy thanks, I’m gonna try your version and with the avocado.
A tip I learned from my mother-in-law; take your ripe bananas and peel them then wrap them in plastic wrap and freeze. This way you will have frozen bananas for your smoothies/shakes and will not have to use ice. It makes them creamier. We just tried coconut milk with frozen pineapple last night. But I found this when looking up what to do with my dates, sounds like lunch tomorrow!
Alamar Fernandez
March 31 at 1:34 amHOLY COW! I don’t know How I got to you, but I bless the Serendipity or is that psynchronicity? WHATEVER!… I’m having this Tomorrow Morning! TYVM!;)
Please don’t sell or share my email!
Priscilla
March 31 at 2:16 pmSo glad you like it Alamar! And, don’t worry – I don’t even keep a list of everyone’s emails so I couldn’t possibly share it 🙂
Joanne
May 22 at 6:58 amThis is gorgeous! Try it with this http://www.tiana-coconut.com/products/coconut-superfoods/raw-coconut-goodness/ and you’ll see how delicious it will taste 🙂