Healthy Green St. Patrick's Day Snacks

By Jenna Helwig
Whip up one of these tasty snacks, meals, or sides and your little leprechauns will be certain they have the luck of the Irish.
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St. Paddy’s Day Shake

Dane Tashima

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

Jennifer Causey
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Top o' the Morning! Surprise your kids on St. Patrick's Day with these fun flapjacks.

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Over the Veggie Rainbow

Photograph By Doug Merriam, Idea By Deirdre Smith Of Jdaniel4Smom.Com

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

Paula Hible
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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

Kang Kim
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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

Kana Okada
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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

Paula Hible
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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

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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

Tara Donne
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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

Photograph by Laura Doss

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.

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Pork with Broccoli and Hoisin Sauce

Kana Okada
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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

Lucy Schaeffer

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

Lenora Gim

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

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Serve up a green-themed dinner with this hearty broccoli soup. Use a clover-shape cookie cutter to make the crouton topping extra special.

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