Enjoy a Naturally Green St. Patrick’s Day!

Celebrate St. Patrick’s Day food coloring free with this Naturally Green Recipe Roundup!

St. Patrick’s Day milk

St. Patrick’s Day is quickly approaching. This holiday is famous for falsely colored green foods like bagels and beer, along with the traditional corned beef and cabbage. I’ve got some fun tips to help you celebrate this festive holiday while keeping you food coloring free. Here’s how to “Enjoy a Naturally Green St. Patrick’s Day“!

Instead of adding chemical colors to your menu, decorate your table by using green placemats or napkins and garnishing with fresh greens like kale. Add fresh green herbs such as dill or parsley to your entrees. Put out a plate of sliced green apples and pears (tossed in a little lemon juice to prevent browning) with green grapes for noshing. A green veggie tray with green peppers, celery, broccoli and cucumbers with a Greek yogurt spinach dip or tzatziki will certainly bring a lot of green and good nutrition to the holiday. Serve the dip in a hollowed green pepper, it’s so pretty! Why not try some Fresh Basil Spread by Slim Sanity. A bowl of pistachios adds green with filling protein, fiber and heart-healthy fats. Try infusing water with some fresh mint leaves or cucumbers for a refreshing, calorie free beverage.

Naturally Green St. Patrick’s Day- Fitfluential

Enjoy a twist on traditional St. Patrick’s Day recipes:

Start the day with 2 over easy eggs on whole wheat toast topped with mashed avocado. The protein, fat and fiber will keep you satisfied all morning (WAY longer than a green bagel- and fewer calories!)
Another option is a “Skinny Shamrock Shake” by The Live Fit Girls, Healthy Mint Breakfast Milkshake by Chicago Jogger, Spinach Protein Pancakes from Slim Sanity, Naturally Green Pancakes by Plaid and Paleo or an egg white veggie omelet packed with green veggies.
Enjoy a Naturally Green #StPatricksDay with this food coloring free recipe roundup! #fitfluential https://nutritionstarringyou.com/enjoy-a-naturally-green-st-patricks-day/ Share on X

Minty Green Shamrock Smoothie

For lunch, have a Spinach Salad with Warm Citrus Vinaigrette or a chopped cabbage salad and add more diced veggies, lean protein and a little of your favorite dressing. The volume will fill you up and help to keep portions of higher calorie foods in check.

Spinach Salad with Warm Citrus Vinaigrette

At dinner, enjoy small portions of your favorite holiday dishes, just try to fill ½ your plate with green veggies like cabbage, broccoli, spinach, zucchini, kale, collard greens, asparagus, Brussels sprouts, bok choy, green beans or a nice mixed green salad. Choose a small portion of corned beef or other meat, about 4 ounces, and keep heavy starches in the other 1/4 of the plate. Add some mashed cauliflower, parsnips or turnips to mashed potatoes to lighten the starch and calories.

For dessert, how about mixing some avocado into any frosting or whipped topping for a natural green hue, or try some Mint Chocolate Chip Avocado Ice Cream from Purely Twins!

Don’t forget to go outside for a little exercise. Watch the parade and take a family walk (weather permitting) to keep moving and spend quality time together.

Let me know what you do on St. Patrick’s Day and any naturally green ideas you share with your family!