Here’s a great way to make a milkshake healthier: Use frozen yogurt and real peanut butter. The classic milkshake is really high in calories because of the premium ice cream and chocolate syrup. No one loves ice cream more than I do, but in combination with pure chocolate syrup, it is lethal from a sugar and calorie point of view. Frozen yogurt lowers the calories and using real peanut butter is an inspired touch, adding healthy fat, some protein, and a ton of flavor without breaking the calorie bank. (And with lots less sugar than the “classic” version.) The added nuts and protein powder will not only lower the glycemic impact (the impact on your blood sugar) but will also beef up the protein and keep you satisfied much longer.

Ingredients
8 small high-quality, all-natural chocolate cookie snaps (such as MI-DEL)
1 pint vanilla frozen yogurt
2 scoops unsweetened, indentured vanilla whey protein powder, softened
3 tablespoons (48 g) natural peanut butter, no added sugar
3/4 cup (175 ml) milk (cow’s milk, unsweetened vanilla soy or almond)
1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Instructions
Crush the cookies into small pieces in a resealable bag with a rolling pin or in a food processor. Add the crushed cookies, frozen yogurt, protein powder, peanut butter, milk, and vanilla to a high-powered blender and blend until mostly smooth.

Yield: 4 servings