Green smoothie in clear glasses with spinach leaves and green apples on table

6 Tips for Eating Green on St. Patrick’s Day

March 17, 2022 Nutrition, Recipes, Spoonful

Whether it’s green drinks, corned beef and cabbage, or festively dyed cookies and treats, there are plenty of delicious traditions to go around on St. Patrick’s Day. While you don’t have to completely remove your favorite higher fat or higher sugar St. Patrick’s Day foods and drinks, there are plenty of ways to add healthy and delicious naturally green foods and drinks into your day. Below are 6 tips to help you add more greens to your St. Patrick’s Day festivities.

  1. Go Green Smoothies: Looking for a beverage this St. Patrick’s Day that is naturally green? Say no more, as smoothies are the perfect answer. Whether it’s adding leafy greens such as spinach or kale, naturally green fruits (kiwi, green grapes, or green apples), or avocados, there are plenty of ways to make your smoothie green this St. Patrick’s Day.
  2. Add greens to your favorite dishes: There are plenty of ways to incorporate more greens into some of your favorite dishes.
    • Try adding green peppers or spinach when ordering or making pizza at home.
    • Stuff your favorite sandwiches with spinach, romaine lettuce, or slices of avocado.
    • Try adding greens such as kale or Swiss chard to soups.
    • Scramble green peppers or spring onions into an omelet for a nutritious breakfast.
    • Try adding a variety of leafy greens to your salad (spinach, kale, arugula, to name a few).
    • Try adding green fruit such as kiwi, green grapes, or honeydew melon to a yogurt parfait or fruit salad.
  3. Snack time: There are plenty of delicious green snacks to enjoy and share with friends and family for St. Patrick’s Day, including oven baked tortilla chips and guacamole, celery sticks and green peppers with dip, edamame, or pistachios.
  4. Substitute: Substitute regularly used items in the kitchen with green alternatives. Instead of pasta noodles, try making zucchini noodles and adding them to your pasta. Instead of bread for sandwiches, try using lettuce as wraps.
  5. Adding greens to water: Try adding sliced cucumbers, mint leaves, or lime to your water for a refreshing burst of flavor.
  6. Plan ahead:  Buy frozen green vegetables to save money and time in the kitchen. Since frozen vegetables have a longer shelf-life, there is less food waste, and frozen vegetables contain just as many nutrients as fresh vegetables do.

Make your St. Patrick’s Day extra lucky by celebrating with some of these natural green tips, and visit our recipes page and our Mainely Dish video series for more inspiration to make your St. Paddy’s Day more green!

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by Alex Bosse, Nutrition Education Professional