St. Patrick's Day is next week! Don't avoid the parades and parties for fear of unhealthy options. Try these 4 healthy St. Patrick's Day ideas and serve at any gathering!
1. Lucky Lad
This boozy beverage is about 100 calories, allowing you to drink and still shrink! Plus, the addition of green-colored fruit like kiwi and grapes makes it perfectly appropriate for the holiday.
Ingredients:
2 oz. TY KU Liqueur
1 oz. Fresca
Muddled kiwi (1 slice)
Green grapes (1 grape)
Lemon (1 slice)
Directions:
Stir TY KU Liqueur and Fresca together in glass, muddle kiwi in liquid, add sliced green grape, top with squeeze of lemon, and serve.
2. St. Patty's Spinach Cake
Forget food coloring! This super moist cake gets its festive color, and an iron-boost, from naturally green spinach.
Serves: 15
Prep time: 15 minutes
Cook time: 30 minutes
Ingredients:
500g baby spinach, washed, drained (hint: 1 large container of baby spinach)
3 eggs
1/4 cup melted coconut oil, plus additional for oiling pan
1 1/4 cup honey
Juice and rind of 1 lemon
1 tsp vanilla extract
2 1/2 cups spelt flour, sifted
1 tsp baking powder
1 tsp baking soda (note: this is to offset the acidity of the honey)
Plain nonfat Greek yogurt for garnish, optional
Directions:
1. Preheat the oven to 375F.
2. Purée spinach in a food processor; set aside. Whisk egg and honey. Add oil, lemon juice and rind, vanilla and puréed spinach. Then add flour, baking powder and baking soda. Mix for a few minutes. Pour into an oiled rectangular cake pan.
3. Bake in oven for approximately 30 minutes. (TIP: Check with a toothpick to test doneness; bake until toothpick comes out clean.) Remove from oven and set aside to cool.
4. Once cooled, remove cake from pan. As an optional garnish, cut off sides of cake (about 1 inch wide) and process in food processor to create a powder; set aside. Slice cake when ready to serve and spread with Greek yogurt. Then sift cake powder over top.
Nutrients per serving:
Calories: 124
Fat: 5g
Saturated fat: 3.5g
Cholesterol: 33mg
Sodium: 150mg
Carbs: 17g
Fiber: 3g
Sugars: 2g
Protein: 4.5
3. Copy Cat {whole foods} Tropical Green Smoothie
1 1/2 cups of coconut water
1 1/2 cups frozen banana, mango, and pineapple chunks
1 cup of kale
Directions:
1. Place ingredients {in the order above} into the blender jar.
2. Blend until you have the desired consistency.
4. Green Goddess Dip
1 avocado diced
2 tablespoon lemon juice
2 tablespoons parsley
2 tablespoon basil
1 clove garlic
½ cup plain Greek yogurt
½ cup mayonnaise
salt and pepper to taste
1. In a food processor, combine avocado, lemon juice, parsley, basil and garlic. Pulse until smooth. Add yogurt and mayo and mix until dip is well blended and creamy. Add salt and pepper to taste.
