Healthy St. Patty's Day Meals

Sticking to a healthy meal plan can be daunting on any holiday– doubly so when liquor is thrown into the mix. Considering St. Patrick’s day holds the title of “the biggest beer-drinking holiday in the United States”, March 17th might be difficult for those of us who are working towards a fitter, stronger body. If you’re struggling to come up with themed meals that are both healthy and fun, don’t worry– we’ve got you covered with some creative options for healthy St. Patty’s Day eats all day long.

While it might constitute a drink, we all know that a smoothie can appease your appetite and nourish your body just as efficiently as a full meal. This St. Patrick’s Day, consider kicking off your day with an on-theme, super-green kale smoothie. Kale is high in fiber, antioxidants, iron, and packed with vitamins, so it’ll skyrocket your energy first thing in the morning. If you aren’t a huge fan of kale’s taste, mix in some pineapple, banana, peanut butter, or honey as an easy way to tame kale’s flavor while simultaneously adding in a whole new set of nutrients.

In place of a smoothie, you might choose to snack on “shamrock-style” avocado toast for breakfast, which is topped with a slice of bell pepper cut in the shape of a shamrock! Atop a piece of whole grain bread, treat the bell pepper slice as a stencil, filling it in with heart-healthy avocado. Then, sprinkle on a garish of crushed pistachios, which are revered for their high percentage of protein.

By lunchtime, you might be craving a hearty sandwich or burger. Skip on the McDonald’s; you can satisfy your craving in a more nutritious way by cooking up a veggie patty! In the token color of St. Patrick’s Day, green veggie patties are a fantastic way to incorporate a wide array of vegetables into your diet with one bite. Some recipes suggest steaming broccoli, peas, celery, and kale, then combining all the healthy goodies with breadcrumbs and tossing it on the grill. For an added beneficial kick, you can top the patty with eggplant slices, or mix up some sun-dried tomato mayonnaise, which is a beloved secret weapon for balancing out veggies with little fat.

Make way for the St. Patrick’s Day dinner of your dreams: Irish beef and Guinness stew. It’s filled with the likes of energizing carrots, celery, and cauliflower – a low-carb replacement to usual potatoes – but the true star of the dish is the tender Irish beef, which is lower in saturated fat than other meat options due to it being grass-fed over grain-fed. The addition of Guinness beer is what gives the stew its dark, rich color and flavor, which may be a tad bit indulgent, but for staying true to Irish culture, it’s a no-brainer to pour it in.

Possible choices for sides may be whole-wheat Irish soda bread – a high-fiber alternative to the classic recipe of the Irish staple – or simple shredded cabbage salad tossed in a bright, refreshing vinaigrette. No matter what you decide to pair your dinner with, the delectable stew will have you feeling perfectly full with nutritious ingredients you won’t regret the morning after.