Want more tips and tricks for reaching your health goals? Join Lark!

Take our 2-minute survey to find out if you’re eligible to join Lark which includes a smart scale and the chance to earn a Fitbit®.
Start now
*Terms and conditions apply
Close icon
< Back to Resource Center
< Back to Member Blog

What Is Your Favorite St. Patrick's Day Recipe?

Natalie
Stein
March 11, 2021
What Is Your Favorite St. Patrick’s Day Recipe? - Lark Health
Lark

Are you at risk of prediabetes?

Lark can help lower your risk for Type 2 Diabetes through healthy habit formation, and data tracking.
Height: 5 ft 4 in
4' 0"
7' 0"
Weight: 160 lbs
90 lbs
500 lbs
LOW RISK
Risk Level
Thank you! Your submission has been received!
Oops! Something went wrong while submitting the form.

Build healthy habits
from your phone

St. Patrick's Day is on Wednesday, March 17. Which recipes or treats are you looking forward to making this year?

  • Corned Beef and Cabbage
  • Shepherd's Pie
  • Irish Soda Bread
  • Green Shamrock Cupcakes
  • Nothing! I don't celebrate St. Patrick's Day.

Make your selection(s) and then learn how to make them healthier (but still tasty)!

St. Patrick's Day

St Patrick's Day is on Wednesday, March 17. It is definitely an opportunity for good fun, and with this year's holiday again being amidst a pandemic, food may again be a special highlight. Though traditional St. Patrick's Day dishes can be high in calories, fat, and carbohydrates, it is possible to make healthier recipes that still taste great and feel festive. These are a few dishes that you can make healthier.

Corned Beef and Cabbage

Corned Beef and Cabbage

Cured corned beef can be packed with nitrites, while using brisket for your corned beef can lead to an excessive amount of calories and saturated fat. Instead, you can avoid nitrites by making your own version using turkey leg meat or a lean cut of beef, such as an eye of round roast or steak as suggested by Mayo Clinic. You can brine the meat and use seasoning such as peppercorns, mustard seeds, juniper berries, and cloves, and apples can provide sweetness without added sugars. Roasting your meat with as many vegetables as possible, such as cabbage, carrots, and onions, yields a filling meal with plenty of fiber, antioxidants, protein, and flavor.

Shepherd's Pie

Shepherd's Pie

Shepherd's pie is traditionally made with seasoned meat mixed with vegetables, topped with a layer of mashed potatoes. It can easily be turned into a lean, nutrient-packed dish. These are some considerations for your lean mean shepherd's pie.

  • Swap mashed turnips or pureed cauliflower. Bonus: blend in milk pureed with spinach to give it a green color.
  • Use lean ground turkey or lentils instead of full-fat ground beef or lamb.
  • Add extra vegetables to the meat or lentils. Diced onions, mushrooms, peas, lima beans, and mixed vegetables are great options.
  • Keep the meat or lentils flavorful by adding low-sodium broth.

Irish Soda Bread

Irish Soda Bread

Irish soda bread is a great choice for beginning bakers and old hands alike, and it is easy to make it healthier. Substituting whole-wheat flour for half of the flour adds antioxidants and fiber, and you can get more healthy fats by eliminating the butter, and adding half that amount of olive oil. You can turn it into a green delicacy by blending the milk and vinegar (or buttermilk) with fresh spinach before adding it to the recipe.

Green Cupcakes

Yes, sweet treats decorated with green motifs are some of the most fun parts about St. Patrick's Day. You can still enjoy a sweet green treat or two while eating healthy. For example, why not freeze some very ripe bananas and puree them with spinach leaves, a drop of mint extract, and a tablespoon of mini chocolate chips? Or, bake whole-wheat peanut butter oat muffins with only bananas to sweeten them, and decorate them with a shamrock cut from a green apple.

Green Food - Naturally!

Green Food

Along with serving naturally green foods, such as asparagus, It is easy to make food green. If you prefer not to use green food coloring, it is possible to boil together water and fresh spinach to get a green pasty fluid that can add green color to almost anything, such as pureed frozen bananas with chopped pistachios for a healthy ice cream substitute. You can even cook whole-grain pasta in water with spinach to give it a green hue!

Bonus Ideas

Spinach pancakes

There are plenty of other recipes to try for more healthy St. Patrick's Day fun. These are a few ideas.

  • Irish Stew with lean beef or chicken, carrots, sweet potatoes, garlic, onions, mushrooms, Guinness beer, olive oil, bay leaves, thyme, and chicken broth.
  • Green egg cups with egg whites, chopped fresh spinach pureed with a dash of milk, diced onions, and parmesan cheese.
  • Spinach pancakes with eggs, spinach, whole wheat flour, flaxseed, and milk.
  • Edamame pesto hummus made in a food processor or blender with shelled edamame (frozen and thawed), onion powder, minced garlic, basil leaves, tahini or olive oil, and lemon juice.

With pandemic restrictions taking away many of the daily diversions and routines we used to take for granted, it can be more important than ever to celebrate holidays. Also important is to keep them healthy, and that is entirely possible this St. Patrick's Day with healthy swaps and plenty of green food!

About Lark

Lark helps you eat better, move more, stress less, and improve your overall wellness. Lark’s digital coach is available 24/7 on your smartphone to give you personalized tips, recommendations, and motivation to lose weight and prevent chronic conditions like diabetes.

Read more

Get healthier with Lark & earn a Fitbit®

Lose weight, get more active, and eat better.
take 1-minute survey

Similar posts

healthy meal optionhealthy meal option

10 Fast Food Breakfasts That Can Fit into Your Weight Loss Plan

More than 1 in 5 adults eat fast food for breakfast on a given day.

Learn more
Yogurt Oatmeal ParfaitYogurt Oatmeal Parfait

Eating Well and Losing Weight While on the Road

It can be hard to eat well and lose weight while traveling, but it's possible! Here are tips for healthy eating on the road.

Learn more
Printable Meal Plan for Weight Loss with Fiber and Whole GrainsPrintable Meal Plan for Weight Loss with Fiber and Whole Grains

Printable Meal Plan for Weight Loss with Fiber and Whole Grains

Healthy eating for weight loss can be simple and tasty. This is a simple meal plan full of whole grains and fiber so you can manage hunger and get more nutrients. Most of the meals take only a few min

Learn more