Celebrate the luck of the Irish with these fun and festive, healthy foods that are naturally green-themed and dye-free!
With St. Patrick’s Day coming up, I thought it would be a good idea to share some of our family’s favorite green foods. The typical foods associated with this holiday aren’t always the healthiest. Lucky charms for breakfast, artificially green cupcakes, cookies, muffins, and candy — not to mention all the added sugar. Whew!
There’s no reason for it.
With the natural green foods I’m sharing, your kids won’t be hopped up from sugar or artificial ingredients. Which means no bouncing off the walls or complete melt-downs right before bedtime. That’s what I’m talking about!
On this list, you’ll find a few ideas for:
- Breakfast
- Lunch
- Dinner
- Side Dishes
- Dessert
There are absolutely no artificial ingredients lurking inside any of the delicious options below. Check them out!
1. CHIPS & GUACAMOLE
It can’t get much easier than this! Chips and guacamole are always a favorite and could easily be an appetizer or a side. If you feel like making your own guac, kudos to you. I love this recipe here. Or make it even easier and grab some from the store, add a little fresh cilantro on top, and voila!
2. RAINBOW FRUIT SKEWERS
3. MINT CHOCOLATE CHIP SHAKE
This nutrient-dense shake is a favorite in our home. The kids don’t even realize there isn’t any dairy or added sugar. Instead, it’s made with ingredients like avocado, banana, spinach and mint. It’s downright dreamy. I confess… it’s a shake I make way more than just once a year for St. Patty’s Day. Once you try it, you’ll understand. Trust me. Grab the recipe here.
4. PESTO PASTA
Ready for the easiest dinner everyone will love? Pesto pasta. It’s as simple as cooking your favorite pasta noodles, draining them, adding them back to the warm pot and stirring in high-quality pesto sauce. I like to drizzle a little olive oil and toss in pine nuts as well. You can enjoy this meal as is, or top it with grilled chicken or fish. YUM. Are you gluten-free? Just use chickpea pasta instead of traditional noodles.
5. CHOCOLATE CUPCAKES WITH GREEN ICING
There’s no way you were thinking of skipping chocolate for St. Patrick's Day (or any holiday for that matter), right? Good. Because these cupcakes are to die for. To keep this recipe clean, I substitute the green dye for natural green dye, use organic ingredients (even for the cake mix) and skip the junior mints. Here’s the chocolate cupcake recipe here.
Not a baker? Don’t let this gorgeous cupcake intimidate you. When I’m not up for following a recipe and having a sink full of dishes, I use Simple Mills Chocolate Muffin & Cake Mix. For the frosting, try Simple Mills Vanilla Frosting, toss in 2-3 drops of natural green food dye and stir away. Easy peasy, right?
6. ULTIMATE GREEN SMOOTHIE
In my opinion, smoothies are God’s gift to mommas. You can toss a handful of ingredients into a blender, and just like that, breakfast is served. This smoothie is bursting with nutrients and is the perfect way to sneak greens into any picky eater’s diet.
The fresh flavors in this smoothie give it a refreshing taste that keeps you and your kiddos coming back from more. Plus, it’s green. So it’s a perfect St. Patty’s Day breakfast or mid-day snack. Just click this link here for the recipe.
7. SHEPHERD'S PIE
Shepherd’s pie is the way to go when you’re in the mood for hearty, meaty, savory comfort food on St. Patty’s Day (or anytime, really). It’s basically a casserole with a saucy meaty base of either ground lamb or beef mixed with vegetables and topped with mashed potatoes, then baked to perfection.
If you decide to serve this on St. Patrick's Day, don’t forget to top it with some fresh parsley. You won’t hear any complaints with this meal. Grab the recipe here.
8. AVOCADO TOAST
No St. Patrick’s Day would be complete without the superfood and super green avocados! Get your green-colored breakfast on with this creamy, crispy, satisfying breakfast. The best part about avocado toast is that you can come up with many different variations to suit your specific taste. It truly is one of life’s simplest pleasures! Grab the recipe here.
9. ROASTED GREEN BEANS
This might be the easiest St. Patrick’s Day side you’ll ever make. Something so simple as green beans elevated to an entirely new level with a few herbs and butter. We’re huge fans of all roasted veggies around here, but these take the cake. Full of flavor, easy to prepare and gorgeous on a platter. Click here for the recipe.
10. GREEN PEPPERS & HUMMUS
Celebrate St. Patrick’s Day in between meals with this simple and easy snack. Green peppers and hummus! Creamy, crispy and not too filling. Just right to cure the munchies between lunch and dinner. You can grab hummus from the store, or try making it from scratch. Here’s an easy recipe you’ll love.
Enjoy a Tasty, Dye-Free St. Patty’s Day
I hope these delicious green foods help you enjoy your St. Patrick’s day that much more and bless you with good health!
As the Irish always say:
May your troubles be less and your blessings be more.
And nothing but happiness comes through your door.
Speaking of good health, remember to add a simple dose of elderberry syrup to your daily routine. Grab your USDA Organic Elderberry Syrup — made with ingredients you can trust.
☘️ If you make any of these recipes, remember to tag us @elderberryqueen or hashtag #elderberryqueen — We can’t wait to see your festive St. Patty’s Day foods!