When I was playing soccer back in high school, I’d sometimes wake up with really bad leg cramps during the night, most likely thanks to a rigorous training schedule that included two-hour practices each day after class and a bike ride home because I didn’t have a car. Upon asking around, I was surprised to find out just how many of my friends (both athletes and non-athletes) had also experienced these nighttime leg cramps at some point in their lives.
Everyone wanted to give advice, which ranged from the commonplace: Drink Gatorade to replace electrolytes. Eat extra bananas for potassium… to the really weird: Sleep with a bar of soap at the bottom of the bed. I adopted the peanut butter and banana sandwich as my new favorite lunch and made different flavors of banana milkshakes each night.
The leg cramps did go away, but I’m not sure if I can thank all the extra bananas…
It might have been the soap! 🙂
 
This cookies & cream Oreo milkshake is full of potassium, as well as calcium, Vitamin C, and fiber. It’s also easy to make. (I figured it’d be good to post an easy recipe after the complicated ice cream recipe of a few days ago.)
Healthy Oreo Milkshake
- 2/3 cup milk of choice
- 1/4 tsp pure vanilla extract
- 2 to 3 Oreos or Healthy Oreos
- 1 medium frozen banana (140g) (See instructions below for a banana-free version)
- optional: sweetener of choice, to taste
- optional: 1 scoop protein powder
Blend all ingredients, except cookies, until completely smooth. Add the cookies, and pulse quickly until broken up. Pour into a glass, top with Vegan Cool Whip if desired, and serve. (Banana-free version: omit banana and use 1/2 cup Mori-Nu tofu or Thai coconut meat. Also add 1/8 tsp salt and 1-2 tbsp sweetener of choice. Increase vanilla to 1/2 tsp.)
View Oreo Milkshake Nutrition Facts
Question of the Day:Â Have you ever gotten nighttime leg cramps?
Do you have any tricks on how to get rid of them? If you ever do get them, you really should try the soap thing. I swear, it works! Another thing that works is standing on a cold floor until the pain goes away. And banana milkshakes… milkshakes make everything better.
Link of the Day: Starbucks-Inspired Cookie Dough Lattes
hey Katie,
I have a healthy makeover suggestion for you that I would love to see sometime. Those Little Debbie Oatmeal Cream Pies. 2 soft, gooey oatmeal cookies in between a layer of vanilla cream. I LOVE them, but don’t eat them anymore because they are full of disgusting ingredients. Just a thought. 🙂
I used to eat those oatmeal creme pies too! Please do a healthy makeover Katie! 🙂
Ditto on the Little Debbie oatmeal pies! Actually, I used to love almost all of the Little Debbie snack cakes until I went dairy-free..so if you’re looking for a challenge Katie, you could makeover those yummy Swiss rolls, too.
Thanks for a great blog!
Mmmmm, those milk shakes look soo good! Oreo milkshakes just so happen to be my favorite kind!
Do you mean coconut meat from fresh coconuts as a substitute?
I know there are some canned products but they always seem to contain syrup which I would like to avoid…
Looks so good
i have nasty leg cramps for at least three years. if i eat a couple of bananas a week that eliminates the problem as it increases the potassium level. i get the cramps two to three times a week and i must stretch my legs to eliminate the pain.
Yummy! I’d add more oreos though!
I love Oreo Milkshakes! I’m not sure wether these would taste very oreo-y though, I might have to put one more in! This definitley is a healthier alternative to the ones in my town though which use a WHOLE PACK ( like the big packs!) of oreos, a cup of whippy icecream, some milk. and chocolate sauce. Oh and extra cream on top! They are delicious though. But probably your whole calorie intake for the day and then some!
http://www.frankeisimone.blogspot.com
Hi there! Thanks for posting this delicious recipe 🙂
Yes, I used to get nighttime leg cramps back in high school because I used to train with the swim team every afternoon for about 2-3 hours. I managed to prevent them by making sure I stretch well prior to training, giving extra attention to my calf muscles. Our coach advises us to take lots of potassium (ie. bananas!) as well. 🙂
Calcium/magnesium/zinc supplement before bed helps.
I love the idea of this! I’ve seen a few recipes using frozen bananas as an ice cream replacement, so i was excited to try this out! Only, it just tastes like a banana smoothie. Did I do something wrong??