Go Green for Saint Patrick's Day
Treat yourself right and have a little fun this Saint Patrick’s Day… See how many green (not dyed!) foods you and your kids can eat!
Fruits and vegetables come in many colors, all of which are a great source of several vitamins, minerals, and other natural substances that protect you from chronic disease. Green fruits and vegetables in particular contain lots of health-promoting nutrients like fiber, carotenoids, vitamins A, C, and K, potassium, and calcium. They can help protect against certain cancers and help maintain vision health and strong bones and teeth.
So, this St. Patty’s Day, instead of dying your food green, celebrate the holiday by eating foods that are naturally green and enjoy the health benefits they have to offer. Here are some ideas to get you started (that might also bring you some good luck?):
- Have a salad with a dark-green leafy lettuce, green peppers, cucumbers, and celery.
- Include avocado in your sandwich.
- Have a bowl of split pea soup.
- If you have corned beef, make it with some cabbage.
- Cook spinach, broccoli, or asparagus as a side dish, in eggs, or on top of pizza.
- Use pesto sauce on whole grain pasta.
- For something sweet, have a green apple, kiwi, or a few bites of honeydew melon.
- Finish off the day with a cup of hot green tea.
Remember, fruits and vegetables — of all colors — are an important part of a healthful diet. Increasing your produce intake by as little as one serving a day can significantly reduce your risk of disease. To find out how many fruits and vegetables you should eat every day (by age and gender), visit www.5aday.gov.
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Have questions regarding this article? Ask the Nutritionist.