St. Patrick’s Day is upon us and this green holiday offers a lot of fun opportunities to get creative with your food! From naturally green foods, to mixing up dishes you already make, there are many ways to incorporate green into all your holiday meals and snacks.
How to Turn Food Green
Let’s start by discussing different additives you can use that will turn food green. Check out the different techniques listed below and remember to be conscious of how the different dying techniques may change the flavor of the dish as well.
Food Coloring: No flavor associated. Start with a couple of drops and add more if necessary. A little goes a long way. If you would prefer not to add anything artificial to your foods, you may consider one of the following options instead.
Add Green Food: Green foods can be mixed into your recipes to add coloring. Adding a green food will most likely add nutritional benefits too. Here are some foods to consider:
Spinach
Avocado
Pistachio
Chlorella
Spirulina
Use Onion Water: Boil the skin of several red onions and use the now green water.
As you plan out your St. Patrick’s Day menu, find fun ways to incorporate green throughout the day. Even if your kids usually eat school lunch, pack them a special St. Patty’s Day lunch that is all green, or have a fun green after school snack prepared when they get home.
All of these foods can be dyed green with the options listed above and/or adding other green ingredients. Here are a few options:
Main Dishes and Sides
Think of your favorite meals and consider turning them green. Or use one of these suggestions:
Pasta with green alfredo sauce (or add some pesto!)
Green scrambled eggs
Green pancakes or waffles
Green biscuits
Rice with cilantro, peas, and cumin
Green pizza – dough dyed green with green toppings
Potato salad or pasta salad
Salsa verde chicken
Sandwiches on green bread (don’t forget the green lettuce and pickles!)
Split pea soup
Spinach quiche
Fried green tomatoes
Tacos or wraps in spinach tortillas
Mashed potatoes and gravy – yup, both green!
Salad with green ranch dressing
Homemade bagel and cream cheese
Green mac n’ cheese
Guacamole deviled eggs
Snacks
When it comes to snacks, you may want to consider some of the healthy snacks listed in this article, or try one of these other options:
Kale chips
Chips and guacamole
Avocado fries
Green yogurt
Broccoli and green ranch dip
Spinach dip
Artichoke dip
Ants on a log – celery filled with peanut butter and raisins on top. (you can even dye the peanut butter green)
Treats
Green frosting for cookies, cupcakes, etc
Shamrock milkshakes made with mint ice cream (or green dyed vanilla)
Vanilla pudding (or use pistachio)
Cookie dough
Grasshopper cheesecake
Green rice crispy treats
Green Jello with whipped cream
Mint cookies
Mint fudge
Green velvet cake
Green peppermint candy
Key lime bars
Lime sherbet
Family Friendly Drinks
Several drinks are naturally green. You can serve a combination of green drinks and other green dyed drinks throughout the day. Try some of these:
Green smoothie
Green Kool-Aid
Flavor clear drinks like water or Sprite with lime, mint, cucumbers, or kiwi
Green milk
Lime slushies
Naturally Green Foods
There are many healthy foods that you can work into all your meals and snacks that are already naturally green! If you are looking to improve the health of your family with some clean eating, but you still want to add a little spice to your St. Patrick’s day, find ways to make dishes that will use some of the following green options.
Granny smith apples
Celery
Broccoli
Asparagus
Brussel sprouts
Peas
Green peppers
Spinach
Green grapes
Cucumber
Zucchini
Green beans
Kale
Kiwi
Avocado
Honeydew melon
Edamame
Basil
Pickles
Holidays like St. Patrick’s Day do not get the usual hype of the bigger holidays like Thanksgiving or Christmas, but it can still be a day full of fun and creativity. Everyone will be green with envy as they eye your delicious meals, treats, and drinks!
Author: Alyssa Craig
Linked up at Buns In My Oven, Eclectic Red Barn, Saving 4 Six, Tidy Mom.
Hello! I am Camille, a wife, mother of four, Disney obsessed, certified teacher, and believer in creating your best momlife the way you see fit. Motherhood comes with its ups and downs, my hope is you’ll find something here to make your life a little better/easier. Let’s be friends on social!
Great list of foods! Sounds like a lot of fun!