Celebrate St. Patrick’s Day the Healthy Way

This year, celebrate St. Patrick’s Day with healthy green foods and drinks! Everyone has been told to eat their greens and with good reason. They are packed with vitamins, minerals, antioxidants and flavor. Read on to check out our list of green superfoods along with a healthy and tasty shamrock shake recipe!

Try Eating These Green Superfoods

Here are some green superfoods that should always be on your plate:

Brussels Sprouts: rich in vitamins A and C, folate, potassium, and cancer-fighting phytochemicals, are high in fiber, and are a good source of amino acids

Avocados: packed with heart-healthy monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fats, and are a good source of vitamins E and C, potassium and lutein

Kiwifruit: has a good mix of soluble and insoluble fiber, has double the vitamin C of an orange, is very high in potassium, and is a good source of vitamin E and folate

Spinach: has double the fiber of other greens, rich in vitamins A and K, is a good source of iron and folate, and provides antioxidants like beta-carotene

Kale: is a good source of vitamins A, C and K, has calcium and even heart-healthy omega-3 acids, and is rich in carotenoids

Broccoli: is a good source of vitamins A, C and K, as well as folate and calcium, is rich in cancer-fighting phytochemicals, and is very high in fiber

Try Making This Healthy Shamrock Shake

As tasty as the classic Shamrock Shake may be, it is typically made with chemical green dye and is loaded with calories, carbs, fat and refined sugar. Here’s a healthy and delicious alternative that turns your shake green naturally with a superfood!

Ingredients

1 overripe large banana, peeled and frozen

Cacao nibs or chocolate chips

1/8 teaspoon to 1/4 teaspoon pure peppermint extract (optional)

Up to 1 cup of milk of your choice

1/4 cup fresh or frozen spinach

Instructions

Blend all ingredients in a blender until completely smooth, using anywhere from 2/3 cup to 1 cup milk, depending on desired thickness.

Tips

Make sure the banana is at least somewhat brown, so you don’t get that unripe earthy banana flavor.

Add the cacao nibs or chocolate chips either before or after blending.

Nutritional Info (per serving):

150 calories

2.5 g fat

5.5 g fiber

32 g carbohydrates

0 g added sugars

Sources

“7 Green Superfoods That Should Always Be On Your Plate,” Nicole Geraci, mindbodygreen.com, March 25, 2013.

Recipe adapted from chocolatecoveredkatie.com.