Feel Lucky & Healthy This St. Patrick’s Day!

By Kelly Jones MS, RD, CSSD, LDN of EatRealLiveWell.com and nutrition coaching at the NAC.

 

While many of you may have started celebrating this past weekend, St. Patrick’s Day is officially two days away and you can keep your celebrations lean, green and delicious without the fake food dyes, extra saturated fat, and sugar-filled boozy beverages.

Shamrock Shake fan?

Celebrate with these healthier versions to fuel your fitness.

This lightened up shake from Tawnie Kroll, the RDN behind the blog at Kroll’s Korner is great pre-workout!

This Mint Green Shamrock Smoothie from Lauren at Nutrition Starring You is a tasty and festive snack after a light workout.

Snacking after Spartan, Body Pump, or a more intense training session? Try this Kelly Green Protein Smoothie.

In need of some meal-time inspiration?

Breakfast

These St. Patrick’s Day Surprise Muffins from Jessica Braider at The Balanced Kitchen are perfect for the whole family at breakfast but can also serve as a healthy snack.

Donuts aren’t off limits in any diet, but making them healthier is a bonus! Laura at Joy. Food. Sunshine. created these delicious and vibrantly green donuts. Food allergies in your house? No problem. These are gluten and dairy-free. Have an egg on the side for a morning protein boost.

 

 

Lunch

How about making a sandwich with some soda bread? Just leave the currants out of this recipe to have a savory sandwich. Judy Matusky, RDN, LDN uses both wheat and all-purpose unbleached white flour in this version to increase nutrient density without compromising flavor. If you’re dairy free, mix soy milk with a tbsp of vinegar rather than the buttermilk the recipe calls for.

 

What is the perfect spread for your sandwich? Pesto, of course! If you’re not into the Irish flavors and prefer a Mexican twist, RD and fertility expert, Elizabeth Shaw of Shaw Simple Swaps has a deliciously green Cilantro Pistachio Pesto for you to enjoy.

 

Dinner

This Rainbow Colcannon posted on Eat Real Live Well is vegan and antioxidant packed. While still creamy like the traditional version, it packs even more flavor!

 

Swap the corned beef for these Lentil Veggie Cabbage Rolls from dietitian Katie Pfeffer-Scanlan of One Hungry Bunny blog. They’re perfect to pair with the rainbow colcannon above for a balanced meal!

 

Sonali, The Foodie Physician, created this amazing Sweet Potato Shepherd’s Pie. Made with ground turkey and plenty of veggies, it is on my list of recipes to make!