Happy St. Patrick’s Day! Today is a perfect day for going green, even if you’re not a drop Irish.

Let’s get our green on with kale, spinach, collards, arugula, avocado, spirulina, kiwi, grapes, celery, pear, green beans, seaweed, melons, and herbs! Note, I mentioned foods that are naturally green, not foods given a faux-emerald hue artificially and chemically. Ew.

One such artificial creation that comes to mind this time of the year is the green thing overtaking McDonald’s menus in the month of March – the Shamrock Shake. Oy vey. Let’s check the ingredients, shall we? The vanilla base is composed of: 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. The Shamrock Shake Syrup is made up of: High Fructose Corn Syrup, Corn Syrup, Water, Sugar, Natural Flavor, Xanthan Gum, Citric Acid, Sodium Benzoate, Yellow 5, Blue 1. The whipped cream topping includes: Cream, Nonfat Milk, Corn Syrup, Sugar, High Fructose Corn Syrup, Contains Less Than 1%: Mono-And Diglycerides, Carrageenan, Polysorbate 80, Beta Carotene (Color), Natural (Dairy and Plant Sources) and Artificial Flavor, Mixed Tocopherols to Protect Flavor. Whipping Propellant (Nitrous Oxide). Finally, the cherry on top is made up of: 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).

No, just no.

With the vanilla base, shamrock syrup, whipped cream, and cherry on top, I just counted 51 ingredients. I’ll just let you sit with that, while I discuss a better way to enjoy something minty, green, and shake-like.

Smoothie bowls are kind of my favorite thing ever. Sipping a smoothie is handy, especially if you’re on the go; but if you really want to make a smoothie more meal-like and special, thicken that sucker up and pour it into a bowl!

This smoothie bowl is super green and gorgeous thanks to the addition of organic baby spinach and some fresh sprigs of mint. I’m sure you may have missed reading ‘mint’ on the above ingredient list – because it’s certainly not there. Artificial flavoring is so not cool. In our smoothie bowl, fresh mint adds the brightest and perkiest taste, and even adds in some antioxidants, fiber, and Vitamin A to the smoothie bowl party. Frozen bananas provide a super creamy texture, while mango sweetens the deal and provides plenty of plant goodness. Avocado and chia seeds thicken the mixture and are great for nourishing fatty acids and almond milk helps to blend the whole thing together.

Celebrate St. Patrick’s Day with some real green. I hope you love it!

Gorgeously Green Smoothie Bowl

Makes 1 big serving, or 2 small

2 ripe bananas, sliced into coins and frozen at least 5 hours
1 mango, chopped
A few sprigs of fresh mint (to taste)
½ cup unsweetened nut milk
½ avocado
1 big handful of spinach
1 tablespoon chia seeds

Combine all ingredients in a blender and blend until smooth and creamy. Add in more nut milk for a slightly thinner texture if needed. Top your smoothie bowl with sliced fruits like banana, mango, or kiwi, unsweetened coconut flakes, chia seeds, hemp seeds, nuts, or anything else delicious!