Healthy Green St. Patrick's Day Snacks
St. Paddy’s Day Shake
The greens go down easy in this creamy smoothie that your little leprechauns will love.
Add ½ cup milk, ½ cup water, 1 cup baby spinach, and ¼ cup fresh mint leaves to a blender. Blend until smooth.
Add ½ green apple (cored, but peel on), 1 frozen banana, and agave syrup to taste. Blend until creamy.
Makes 2 smoothies.
NUTRITION PER SERVING 126 calories; 4g protein; 2g fat (1g sat. fat); 26g carbs; 4g fiber; 17g sugar; 2mg iron; 116mg calcium; 46mg sodium.
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Spinach Pancakes
Top o' the Morning! Surprise your kids on St. Patrick's Day with these fun flapjacks.
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Over the Veggie Rainbow
This St. Patrick's Day snack provides a golden opportunity to entice your kids to eat fresh vegetables. To make it, fill a small bowl with naturally green guacamole. Slice four long strips of bell peppers in various colors and arrange them as shown. Cut two small cauliflower clouds, skewer each with a toothpick, then position one on each side of the peppers. Place sliced carrot coins beside the bowl for the leprechaun's pot of gold.
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Minty Peas
You can't get more green than these peas! Sauté 2 cups frozen peas in 2 teaspoons olive oil on medium for 2 minutes. Remove from heat; add 2 tablespoons fresh mint, 1 teaspoon lemon peel, and a dash of salt and pepper.
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Kooky Kale Chips and Dip
Kids will crave this vitamin-packed leafy green when it's turned into a crunchy chip and served with a dip. One recent study at Temple University found that 3- to 5-year-olds chowed down about 80 percent more veggies when they had something to dunk them in.
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Green Gnocchi
In 20 minutes and with only six ingredients you'll have an emerald-hued meal on the table that both the adults and kids will enjoy thanks to the pillow-y gnocchi and savory pesto.
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Cucumber Ribbon Salad
This fun riff on classic cucumber rounds is perfect for a side dish at dinner or even an afternoon snack. To make, trim the ends off a medium cucumber, then cut it in half crosswise and peel into strips. Whisk 2 tablespoons rice vinegar, 1 tablespoon canola oil, 1/2 teaspoon toasted sesame oil, 1/2 teaspoon honey, salt, and pepper. Toss the dressing with the cucumber and some toasted sesame seeds.
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Shamrock Soup
Here's a festive recipe even Baby can enjoy! Just follow these easy, step-by-step instructions to transform a pea puree into a tasty soup for the whole family. Now that's lucky.
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Breakfast Pizza
Sure this green frittata is good for breakfast, but it also makes a healthy and festive lunch or dinner. To save time, make the dish the night before; it can be refrigerated for up to 2 days. Reheat leftover slices in the microwave for 30 seconds.
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Leprechaun Hats
Celebrate Saint Pat's with a crunchy cucumber treat. Cut 1-inch sections of an English cucumber. Halve them lengthwise and lay the pieces flat on a plate, as shown. Trim a cucumber brim for each hat and set it in place. Finish with a sliced cheese band and buckle, attached with dots of hummus or dip.
- RELATED: St. Patrick's Day Crafts for Kids
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Pork with Broccoli and Hoisin Sauce
Alright, so Asian food may not be the first thing you think of on St. Patrick's Day. But the broccoli in this crowd-pleasing stir-fry is all the green you need. Serve this main dish on its own or round out dinner with a side of brown rice.
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Shamrock Snack
When your little leprechauns get hungry, give them this healthy treat. Luckily, it delivers plenty of vitamins A and C.
1. Remove the seeds from a long, thin sweet pepper and slice into several rings.
2. Jazz them up more by slicing a few of the rings into smaller pieces for stems.
3. Arrange shamrocks on a plate with a dollop of honey-mustard dip – your kids' own tiny pot of gold.
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Taters for Tots
Pint-size potatoes, such as fingerling and red bliss, make a high-energy after-school snack or a great kiddie side dish with dinner. With this green pesto topping, they're perfect for St. Patrick's Day.
1. Pierce potatoes and microwave on medium-high for 3 to 5 minutes. Let cool.
2. Cut in half and scoop out flesh of potatoes into a bowl (leaving the skin in shape). Add 1 tablespoon butter and 2 tablespoons of prepared pesto, and mash together. Spoon potato mixture into skins and serve.
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Creamy Broccoli Soup
Serve up a green-themed dinner with this hearty broccoli soup. Use a clover-shape cookie cutter to make the crouton topping extra special.