Many people love milkshakes. This smooth, frothy drink is a great snack, especially on a hot summer day. The problem arises when one tries to prepare her own milkshake and it usually ends up a hodgepodge of sugary, high calorie ingredients that very well may do more harm than good. It is best to prepare the healthiest milkshake you can, so enjoying it does not have to be riddled with underlying guilt.

Knowing how you want to feel after you drink a milkshake is a good first start. You may want some extra protein or maybe some vitamin C for that cold you're fighting, or possibly an herb to help with focus, energy or stamina. In addition, using non-dairy ingredients can offer a kinder, gentler milkshake when it comes to digestion. Below are some examples of healthy milkshakes.

1. Wake the Brain

Instead of coffee try this brain stimulating concoction to start your day.

• 1 1/2 cups of vanilla rice milk
• 1/2 cup crushed ice
• 1 cup orange juice
• 2 tbsp of honey, *Stevia or *agave nectar
• 2 emptied capsules or one dropper full of *ginkgo biloba
• 1 cup of *yerba mate'(mah-tay) or green tea
• 2 bananas
• 1/4 tsp of coconut extract

2. Feed the Muscles

This protein boost should prepare or repair your muscles

• 3 cups of almond, *hemp or soy milk
• 3 frozen bananas
• 3 tbsp peanut, sunflower and/or almond butter
• 1 cup tofu
• 1 B-12 vitamin, crushed or liquid dropper full
• 1 pack of *Emergen-C any flavor

3. Happy Juice

Throw together one of these shakes to battle the blues

• 2 cups of chocolate (carob) soy milk
• 1/2 cup of crushed ice
• 1/4 cup shaved dark/milk chocolate or carob
• 1/2 cup frozen pit-less green or red grapes
• 1/2 squeezed lemon (watch the pits!)
• 1 dropper full of green tea extract
• 1 *Ginseng capsule or dropper full
• 1 *St. John's Wort capsule or dropper full

4. Too Sweet or Not Too Sweet

This shake is in-between the sugary sweet and the not sweet enough.

• 2 cups of unsweetened soy or rice milk
• 1/2 cup of crushed ice
• 1/2 cup of orange juice
• 1/4 tbsp vanilla extract
• 1 tsp of Stevia or *sucanat
• 1 tsp lemon juice

5. Make it a Meal

No time on the run to make that meal? No problem.

• 1 cup low fat/skim milk or unsweetened soy/rice milk
• 1 cup of orange juice
• 1 cup of crushed ice
• 1 cup of kale or spinach
• 1 whole squeezed lemon
• 1 tbsp honey, *Stevia or *agave nectar
• 1/2 cup of pitted dates

*Special Ingredient Key

• Stevia - herb sweetener best used in powder form
• Agave Nectar - sweet sap from the Mexican Blue Agave plant similar to honey
• Ginkgo Biloba - an herb that helps with focus, memory and concentration
• Yerba Mate' - tea from the leaf of the yerba mate' tree containing botanical caffeine (a calmer energy than bean caffeine)
• Hemp - high protein milk legally produced from the cannabis plant
• Emergen-C - individual powder packs of 1000 mgs of vitamin C and other minerals
• Ginseng - extracted root of the ginseng plant which helps enhance energy and stamina
• St. John's Wort - extracted herb from a weed known to help combat minor depression
• Sucanat - non-refined sugar cane granules