Happy St. Patrick’s Day! Whether or not you’re Irish, it’s the day when we all celebrate the rich Irish culture and heritage – and there’s certainly plenty of ways to celebrate!
Like many other holidays, food and drinks are at the center of most St. Patrick’s Day celebrations, but why not try some healthier options this year? The best part is that you don’t even have to have the luck of the Irish to enjoy these delicious and healthy St. Patrick’s Day recipes.
Think Green!
Corned beef and cabbage may be the traditional St. Patty’s Day meal, but that’s certainly not the only option out there! Switch things up this year and try these healthy St. Patrick’s Day recipes:
- Irish Lamb Stew: Stew is one of the best meals to enjoy on a cold March day, and this Irish Lamb Stew is a great one to try! This filling stew is full of carrots, potatoes and leeks that’ll help cure that common cold you may be fighting. To make it even better, this stew is delicious and simple to make – just combine all the ingredients in a slow cooker for about eight hours and you’re set! To make it healthy, be sure to trim off any visible fat from the lamb.
- Whole-Wheat Irish Soda Bread: Another Irish staple is soda bread. Perhaps one reason soda bread is so popular is that there are so many different ways to make this tasty treat. Whole wheat with flakes of bran and wheat germ is probably the healthiest recipe, but you can also use white flour or a mixture that is leavened with baking soda and moistened with buttermilk. Whether you shape the dough into scones or round loaves for toast, soda bread is a great addition to the Irish Lamb Stew recipe above or even just other soup meals – the choice is yours!
- Mini Shepherd’s Pie: We know the traditional topping of Shepherd’s Pie is potato, but this one is a little different. Instead of a potato topping, this recipe calls for squash puree. This alternative ingredient is delicious and convenient as you can just use two packages of frozen winter squash puree for the topping, and it only takes about a total of 40 minutes to prepare. As a bonus, it also has large amounts of Vitamin A, Vitamin C, Zinc and Calcium.
- Oven-Fried Fish and Chips: This may be the most surprising meal on this list of healthy Irish recipes. After all, when you typically see fish and chips, the paper they’re wrapped in is soaked in grease. But luckily, there’s a simple way to make this meal both taste great and be good for you: coat the fish in cornflakes to make a crispy crust and bake it alongside sliced potatoes. This simple step reduces the fat and cuts the amount of calories in half!
While enjoying these healthy St. Patrick’s Day recipes, a great way to celebrate this holiday, and any other holiday, is spending time with family. As you celebrate this special day, here’s an Irish Toast for you and your family:
“To all the days here and after, may they be filled with fond memories, happiness, and laughter.”
Wishing you and your loved ones a very happy and safe St. Patrick’s Day from all of us here at Medical Guardian!
