Disguised as a delicious dessert, this healthy milkshake has practically no added sugar and is a great source of calcium for kids who are reluctant to drink milk. Plus, it’s decadent enough that you’ll want to make it for yourself after the kids go to bed, too.   I hope you all had a fabulous Fourth of July. We spent it with my husband’s family, watching the small-town parade, playing games, grilling up some delicious chicken (the lemon rosemary chicken marinade in this post), and lighting off fireworks in the street. Hooray for mid-week holidays! That’s my kind of Wednesday.

Now I’m back to regular mom life tasks…like making sure my kids get enough calcium in their diet.

Do you struggle to get your kids to drink enough milk? Lately, my kids have been rejecting their daily dose of moo juice, even in their cereal. They just say, “I want milk on the side,” and then they leave the cup sitting there unless I remind/insist that they drink it. Thanks, kiddos.

Because of this, I’ve been looking for some creative ways to get milk into their diets. Of course, I could just offer them chocolate milk and they would down it in a minute flat. But have you ever looked at how much sugar is in chocolate milk? It’s about 25 grams per 8 oz serving, 13 grams of which are added sugar (about 3 teaspoons). Now, that’s healthier than soda or fruit punch, but not exactly the kind of healthy drink I’m aiming to serve my kids on a regular basis.

Related: Easy tips for reducing sugar in your family’s diet (for families who still like dessert)

So, I started looking for other options.

My first attempt was admittedly a complete failure. I created homemade chocolate milk that was sweetened with bananas. I called it “monkey milk”. Cute, right? Except that neither of my boys would take more than a few sips. Whomp, whomp.

Back to the drawing board. I tried other kinds of flavored milk with varied results. We made a cinnamon oat milk that was a little reminiscent of horchata. My oldest liked that one, but Little Brother was still not impressed. We made strawberry milk, which they loved in theory, but wasn’t sweet enough to entice them in reality.

After literally months of experimenting, I finally hit the jackpot: strawberry cheesecake milkshakes. I took inspiration from the fact that my kids both like smoothies, and decided to up the milk content, market it as a milkshake (which sounds like dessert), and they were sold…especially when I sprinkled graham cracker crumbs on top.It’s a super simple recipe that comes together in five minutes, uses only a handful of easy-to-find ingredients, and has practically no added sugar. All the sweetness comes from the natural fructose in the strawberries and bananas. The only added sugar (and it’s optional) is in the graham cracker crumbs and a little dollop of whipped cream, if you’re feeling fancy.

Read on for the recipe! 

Not to mention, this healthy milkshake tastes like someone just blended up my favorite dessert of all time and served it to me slightly frozen.

I’m not gonna lie, I’m feeling triumphant over here. Interested in trying it out? This milkshake would make a perfect addition to your breakfast, snack, or even dessert rotation (they don’t have to know that it’s healthy…wink, wink).

Want more healthy snack ideas for your kids? Try these…

• Favorite Berry Smoothie

• Banana Sushi

• Banana Wheels

• Mini Blueberry Muffins…Healthified