Is there anything more quintessentially American than the milkshake? Sure, there is the apple pie, but how many people eat a burger at their local drive thru and wash it down with an apple pie. Not too many, I would think. You can’t stick two straws in an apple pie on a date. Well, you could, but I doubt that date would last too much longer after having done so.

So my vote goes to the milkshake.

But are milkshakes tooth friendly? Milk has calcium, that’s good for teeth, right?

Well, although calcium is good for your teeth, that calcium rich milkshake is also made with sugar-loaded ice cream. And, of course, sugar is the arch-nemesis of a healthy smile. But don’t fret, here is a recipe to help you keep your smile and eat your shake too.

Strawberry Milkshake

Ingredients:

• 2 cups Milk (Almond, soy or coconut milk works for our non-dairy friends)
• 2 tablespoons almond butter
• 1 cup frozen strawberries
• 1 tablespoon unprocessed honey (Manuka honey* is best)

How To:

• Let the strawberries thaw slightly. (Just a couple of minutes out of the freezer)
• Place everything in a blender or food processor and blend until smooth
• Pour into glass with two straws
• Throw away apple pie

Prefer a chocolate shake? Replace the strawberries with two frozen bananas and add 2-3 teaspoons of cocoa powder (depending on how chocolaty a shake you like.)

*We’ve talked about Manuka honey in the past. It is an unprocessed, raw honey from New Zealand that has anti-bacterial properties and helps suppress microorganism growth. Microorganisms that eat sugar and produce acid that leads to dental caries!