This shake, although insanely delicious, is really, very healthy! I sometimes have it for breakfast and add a couple of teaspoons of pea protein powder to keep me fuller, longer. The combination of maca and dates creates a deep caramel flavour while the addition of natural yoghurt gives it the thickness of a good quality mylkshake.
Maca, which is considered one of the top ‘superfoods’, is part of the cruciferous family. Just like its sisters, cauliflower and broccoli, its packed full of nutrition. It has a sweet, nutty flavour which goes perfectly in this caramel shake, and the energy boost it gives makes it a treat that will do your body good. Known for being an adaptogen, Maca helps the body to deal with stressors of a busy lifestyle with its positive effects on energy and hormone levels. This shake is ideal as an afternoon ‘pick-me-up’ when you are craving that sweet treat, because it will give you sustained energy without the sugar crash.
Medjool dates, which give this decadent drink its rich caramel taste, also help boost your energy levels due to their natural sugars. They also contain fibre, calcium and iron along with loads of other vitamins and minerals. They are quite the superfruit! The fibre in dates is what makes the sugars slow-releasing, which is why even though they are as sweet as, well…sweets, they don’t affect your body in the same way.
Other than being good for you, just enjoy this shake because it’s delicious!
Here’s how to make it…
- Soak the dates in a bowl of water for 15 minutes until softened, then drain
- Add the dates along with the rest of the ingredients (except the ice) and blend until smooth
- Put the ice cubes in and blend for a further 10 – 20 seconds
- Serve with a few more ice cubes if you want it to be colder!