5 Healthy St. Patrick’s Day Foods

St. Patrick’s Day is Saturday, so you know what that means—just about everyone you know will be drunk this weekend. But, let’s not just focus on the green beer, shall we? Let’s focus on the tasty and surprisingly healthy (or not so terrible) eats. Erin go bragh—or perhaps erin go yum!

Healthy St. Patrick’s Day Foods

1. Chomp on clover. According to Diets in Review, certain types of clover have been found to be high in calcium, magnesium, potassium, thiamine and vitamin C. While they taste pretty grassy raw, you can add them to cooked dishes. Just be sure not to eat the four-leaf ones—those are lucky!

2. Pick the potatoes for health. Potatoes get a bad rap sometimes because we tend to like them deep-fried or covered in cheese and bacon, but spuds themselves are actually dang good for you. High in vitamin C, vitamin B6, potassium, manganese and fiber, they’re an Irish food worth savoring! Just be sure to go for the baked variety…and top it with a little salsa for kick. I know it’s more Cinco de Mayo than St. Patrick’s Day, but your health will thank you.

3. Be a cabbage patch kid. In multiple varieties, all with cruciferous qualities and cancer-fighting proprieties, eating cabbage steamed, lightly cooked or raw is the way to go. Whether it’s purple or white, pile it on your St. Patrick’s Day plate for a major health boost!

4. Make your own Shamrock Shake. I love minty things, so this time of year when the McDonald’s Shamrock Shake comes out, I crave one. While I used to allow myself one a year as a special St. Patrick’s Day treat, now I make my own at home by blending together almond milk, frozen bananas, spinach, kale and a drop or two of mint flavoring. It doesn’t taste exactly the same, but it’s a treat that I enjoy and it makes me feel good after I drink it! Get a recipe for one here.

5. Go green by eating your greens! As long as it’s natural, green usually means it’s good! So the ultimate St. Patrick’s Day food is really all of your green veggies like kale, spinach, asparagus, broccoli…the list goes on and on! If you’d really like to get your healthy St. Patrick’s Day food eat on, try making this green soup!

What’s your favorite St. Patrick’s Day food? Is it good for you? Could you make it healthier? Share! —Jenn