Other than traditional Irish foods, the things we most associate with St. Patrick's Day seem to be green beer and Shamrock Shakes, neither of which are the healthiest options. But your celebration can include healthy St. Patrick's Day snacks and treats, and these foods can be a fun way to learn about Irish culture as well.
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You don't have to rely on green food coloring either, although a little bit can be fun. Nature is full of lovely green food, all which make delicious (and some of them even healthy) St. Patrick's Day snacks. These green treats are easy to make and good for you. So, if you're looking for good eating to bring you luck this March 17, read on for 14 easy St. Patrick's Day recipes.
Some of these tasty bites are traditional Irish food and some of them are just green, but all of them are great ideas for your family-friendly shamrock celebration.
1. St. Patty's Day Jello Parfait
Go simple and classy. This easy green treat is just two ingredients, though you can also add fun green sprinkles or mint-chocolate chips for an extra touch.
2. Green Apple Gummy Bears
They're adorable, they're green, and they're candy. What kid (or adult) could resist these sweet treats to celebrate St. Paddy's Day with?
3. Rainbow Fruit Skewers
If you're looking for a snack-based pot of gold, these cute rainbow skewers are multi-colored fun on a stick. They're easy to make and easy to carry, a perfect healthy snack for classrooms or after school events.
4. Avocado Pound Cake
A healthy St. Patrick's Day includes room for dessert. This lovely light green pound cake is rich and delicious, but packed with good fats. You can't go wrong with a healthy treat like this for your St. Paddy's day menu.
5. Irish Chips
There's nothing better than eating take away fish and chips out of a bag while sitting on a bench outside a thousand-year old church in Dublin. But since it's hard to cross the Pond for one meal, here's a healthy twist on those addictive potatoes. Just remember, Irish chips are American fries, and if you want the authentic experience, top them with malt vinegar.
6. Lucky Spinach Quiche
This adorable idea for a four-leaf clover quiche is creative and will look fantastic on your plate. You can also sub in ready-made pie crust or other greens like kale or chard for the spinach.
7. Irish Raisin Tea Scones
Fix a cuppa (Irish Breakfast, of course) and snack on one of these not-too-sweet fruit-studded scones to celebrate St. Patrick's Day.
8. Mini Shepherd's Pies
These mini shepherd's pies are the perfect thing to cook for a filling after-school snack or as finger food for your St. Patrick's Day shindig. They're packed veggies and protein, plus they're a pie topped with mashed potatoes, and really, it doesn't get better for snack food than that.
9. Spinach Oatmeal Pancakes
Good for breakfast or an afternoon snack, these green pancakes are gluten-free because of the oat flour. These would be lovely topped with baked apples or fresh strawberries, or you could showcase the colors of the Irish flag and top the pancakes with orange marmalade and a bit of whipped cream.
10. Pesto Dip
This super healthy, bright green dip using basil and avocados goes great on your brown bread or with any green veggies, like these healthy shamrock-shaped green bell peppers.
11. Irish Sliders
Corned beef is, of course, perfect for St. Patrick's Day, and these Irish sliders are perfect appetizers for leprechauns and party guests alike.
12. Irish Potato Cakes with Avocado Ranch
These potato cakes take Irish boxty (potato pancakes) and top them with a drizzle of avocado ranch dressing for a delightfully tasty snack.
13. Lucky Charms Cupcakes
Even if you're trying to keep things on the healthy side for St. Patrick's Day, a little indulgence is good for the soul. These Lucky Charms cupcakes are small and cute and taste like a bowl of cereal in the best way possible. Just don't eat all the marshmallows out of the cereal box first; you need them for the frosting!
14. Chocolate Guinness Brownies
Chocolate and Guinness beer in dessert recipes go together like leprechauns and shamrocks. These fudge-like brownies are vegan, not-too-sweet and, since chocolate is packed with antioxidants, totally healthy. If you feel the need for a sugar rush, though, you can top the brownies with a Baileys Irish Cream frosting (or just drink a glass of Baileys with this St. Patrick's Day snack).
This article was originally published on March 12, 2019.
