In my old life, when I was eighty pounds overweight, I constantly drank and craved strawberry milkshakes. The seven hundred and ten calories, (in addition to twenty grams of fat and one hundred grams of sugar, in the form of high fructose corn syrup), somehow brought me relief. Much like my other addictions, the relief was only temporary and the milkshakes actually created more problems than they solved.
It wasn’t until I first started practicing power yoga, when I got to know myself on a deeper level, that I realized drinking these milkshakes was due to my issues with emotional eating (and maybe also due to an addiction to high fructose corn syrup). Dedicated to getting back to health and ready to shed old, bad habits, I knew I had to stop drinking milkshakes entirely. I worked extremely hard to lose the weight and the associations with unhealthy foods, but still found myself wanting to indulge. Being at my goal weight for over three years now, I’ve learned that I need to pay attention to cravings and not deprive myself. Instead, I need to honor what I desire and modify indulgences so they nurture and really feed me.
Below is a recipe for a simple and healthy version of a vanilla milkshake. It is vegan, gluten, dairy and cane sugar free and delicious! The avocado gives it a richness that satisfies my desire to indulge and is filling, so I’m not searching for more after I drink it.
Contrary to popular belief, avocados are a healthy fat. Most see that they are high in calories, without understanding that not all calories are created equal. They are full of brain-building fat, assist with absorption of nutrients, reduce the signs of aging, regulate blood sugar, improve eye health, provide protection against heart disease and are a great source of fiber. This recipe works best with a high speed blender. Indulge and enjoy!
VANILLA AVOCADO MILKSHAKE
Blend together in blender:
1/2 ripe avocado
1 1/2 cups unsweetened vanilla almond milk
2 tsp alcohol-free vanilla extract
2-3 tbsp honey
8-10 ice cubes
(More ice cubes make it thicker. If it gets too thick, add in more almond milk.)
