Green Foods to Celebrate Saint Patrick’s Day!

I like to think of March as a month of green thanks to St. Patrick’s Day. Green fruits and veggies contain many nutrients beneficial for your health such as fibre, vitamin K, A, C, E, magnesium and folate. Did you know the darker the leafy green vegetable, the higher levels of polyphenols which have antioxidant properties? Researchers have also credited green vegetables in promoting colon and heart health. 

Keep reading for five green St.Patrick’s day food ideas and recipes!

Here are 5 green fruits and vegetables to enjoy this month: 

1. Kiwi

This small fruit is a mighty one loaded with vitamin C intake, vitamin K intake and some fibre. They are great in smoothies, salads and sorbet. Try a kiwi salsa with avocado and jalapeño for another fun green addition to your plate. 

Check out these blog posts for tips on eating more fruits and vegetables:

Eating the Rainbow

Fruit failing? How to eat more fruits and vegetables

2. Broccoli

The little ‘trees’ of this vegetable contain oodles of vitamin C as well as vitamin K and phosphorus. The stems of broccoli contain most of the fiber so be sure to include these on your plate. Try a broccoli salad, roasted broccoli topped with grated parmesan cheese, or add broccoli to stir-fries, casseroles and soup.

Here are a couple of broccoli recipes to try:

Broccoli and Sun-Dried Tomato Frittata

Cranberry, Broccoli and Toasted Almond Salad

3. Bok Choy

Both regular and baby bok choy are packed with nutrients such as beta-carotene, vitamin C and E, folate and selenium. Bok Choy has a mild, peppery flavour that makes it a perfect addition to many dishes. It can be added raw to salads, grilled or added to soups or stir-fries.

Here are a couple of recipes to try that include this tasty green:

Salmon & Stir Fry Sheet Pan Dinner

Fast Fish and Fresh Herb Packet

4. Spinach

Not only is spinach high in iron, potassium and fiber, it also contains lots of vitamins, such as vitamin C, which is beneficial in the uptake of iron found in both the spinach itself and in other high iron foods such as meat. Spinach is great in salads, wraps, sauteed into eggs or pastas or added to soups, casseroles and stuffed chicken.

Try these delicious spinach recipes:

Pear Walnut Blue Cheese Salad with Spinach

Crustless Spinach And Feta Quiche

5. Granny Smith Apple 

These tart, tangy apples are a great cooking apple as they hold their shape. They are great eaten raw with a sprinkle of cinnamon and dollop of Greek yogurt and a drizzle of honey or in pies, tarts, chunky apple sauce, stuffed into pork loins or diced into salads.

Here are a couple of apple recipes you should try:

Apple poppyseed coleslaw recipe

Apple Cinnamon Baked Oatmeal Cups

And there you have it! Let us know in the comments below how you enjoyed these green St.Patrick’s Day food ideas!