Healthy Options for a Festive St. Patrick’s Day Feast

If you’re like most people, you’ll be channeling your inner Irish this upcoming weekend.  Aside from the holiday parades, you might also choose to prepare a St. Patrick’s day-themed meal to celebrate.  Now, since green beer is not  considered a nutritious option, let’s explore some ideas that do keep with the holiday theme, yet won’t leave you feeling under the weather the next day.

Green is the color of St. Patrick’s day and you know what is green?  Greens!!  Yep, all kinds …kale, collard greens, lettuce, spinach, even the traditional St. Patrick’s day cabbage.  Sautee a little of the greens in garlic and olive oil and serve as a side dish.  Or make a spinach salad with fresh mushrooms, sliced onion, golden raisins and slivered almonds.  Roasted cabbage or brussel sprouts are also good side dishes to serve.  In fact, when it comes to side dishes, there are so many green veggies that are in season the possibilities are endless.  Asparagus, broccoli, peas are just a few options.

Now for some more interesting ideas that venture further from the traditional St. Patrick’s day menu.  If the typical meat and potatoes aren’t your taste, how about St. Patrick’s day with some Mexican flair?  Shamrock Tostadas are filled with veggies and use a green bell pepper to create a “shamrock” as the final topping:

Make St. Patty’s Day Nachos by cutting out mini shamrocks from spinach tortillas and baking them, top them with grilled chicken, low-fat cheese, avocado, black beans, tomatoes and lettuce.

Finally, if you do want to go with a traditional St. Patrick’s day menu, here is a lighter take on the typical Corned Beef & Cabbage recipe.  Corned Beef & Cabbage Soup gives this dish a different twist with all the flavor, but less calories.

So, make this St. Patrick’s Day a happy and healthy one and may the luck of the Irish be with you!

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