March 2022 Nutrition Blog
Feel Healthy and Lucky
By - Ellen Levine, MS, RDN, EP
St. Patrick’s Day is here, and it is time to celebrate with a delicious green drink! How about this year we forgo the beer with green food coloring or the festive ice cream shake at the fast-food restaurant and we even avoid the matcha latte? There are more natural and nutritious ways to share in the festivities without the hangover that the alcohol or high sugar beverages will produce. Here are a few simple ideas that you can put your own spin on to feel healthy and lucky this St. Patrick’s Day.
If you have a juicer, make a green juice. Grab 2c of any leafy green that you enjoy, add 2 stalks of celery, 1 carrot, half of both 1 lemon and 1 avocado, shave in some fresh ginger and turmeric to taste. This is a savory, creamy anti-inflammatory option. If you would like to juice but want something a little sweeter swap the carrot for an apple, some pineapple chunks, a ripe pear, or berries. If a smoothie is more your style, use frozen fruits and vegetables for this to get that milkshake-like consistency. Start with 1c of water or your milk of choice and pour it into a blender. Add 3 ice cubes and add some protein with Greek yogurt or vanilla protein powder. Now for the fruits and vegetables. Find a frozen green that you have never tried; kale, spinach, collard greens or broccoleaf, you will need about 1 c and on top of that 1 c of frozen peaches or your fruit of choice, blend until smooth. Depending on your desired consistency add water (to thin it) or ice (to thicken it). Finally, if you are a traditionalist and you want to keep it simple give yourself an antioxidant boost and switch over to green tea instead of the tempting sweet hot green beverages. Looking good and feeling good is not just a matter of luck, it takes effort on our part. Hopefully one of these drinks will leave you feeling festive and fueled to partake in the joy of the season!