Green Food that Tastes Good

This wasn’t exactly what I had in mind for my St. Patrick’s Day menu.

When I couldn’t find corned beef at the grocery store for St. Patrick’s Day, my Plan B was to make something green. I ended up in the salad and veggies section and found what I needed: spinach. Would I rather have corned beef, cabbage and potatoes on St. Patrick’s Day? Absolutely. Am I mad about overdosing on spinach instead? Surprisingly, no. Spinach has a extremely high nutritional value, rich in antioxidants and full of vitamins and minerals. Basically, you really need to incorporate spinach into your diet if you aren’t already.

I have a secret to share with you. If you aren’t a huge fan of spinach (who is?), your new best friend is a banana. The sweetness and flavor of a banana balances the spinach taste and a miracle happens… You can actually eat and enjoy spinach!

I created my own Spinach Pancakes for breakfast that were not only the perfect color for St. Patrick’s Day, but healthy as well. I ate mine with a little bit of coconut oil and half of a banana, and they were delicious! They would also taste great topped with vanilla yogurt, pure maple syrup, honey or fresh berries. Pop the leftovers in the toaster the next morning for a quick and healthy breakfast!

Are you up for a challenge? Take your green to a whole other level and pair it with a green smoothie. Choose a combination that sounds good to you!

1. Take a large handful of greens: Spinach, Kale, arugula or lettuce.

2. Choose 1-2 cups fruit: banana, berries, oranges, peaches, melon, pineapple, etc.

3. Pour 1 cup of liquid: milk of choice (almond, coconut, hemp, etc) or filtered water

4. Add any extras for a yummy boost: yogurt, oats, chia seeds, cacao powder, nut butter, honey, avocado, etc.

Blend and enjoy your green smoothie! Pin the image below for a quick reference when you need a natural pick-me-up.

In addition to my green pancakes and green smoothie, I also made this green and orange citrus chicken quinoa salad and homemade mint chocolate ice cream. There’s heaps more ideas for healthy ways to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day at this website as well. Happy St. Patricks Day and Irish you the best!

What are YOUR favorite smoothie combinations and favorite foods for St. Patrick’s Day?? I’d love to hear them and try them for myself!