St. Patrick’s Day may have had a religious past, but these days it’s mostly known – and loved – for indulging! The unhealthy food and drink usually consumed on the holiday doesn’t mean there isn’t any hope though, because I’ve outlined 5 ways to stay healthy on St Patrick’s Day.
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The wild origins of the holiday came about because it falls during Lent (on March 17th). It gave Christians a day off of their abstinence and fasting that lead up to Easter. Because the celebrations got so out of hand, the church tried to remind their people that this was a holy day. They assigned St. Patrick a botanical item. It was customary for all saints, and for St. Patrick, it was the shamrock.
The pandemic has dampened the usual celebrations, but there’s still ways to celebrate with good food at home – and you don’t have to sacrifice a good time for healthy habits.
5 Ways to Stay Healthy on St Patrick’s Day
- Drink plenty of water
St. Patrick’s Day is well known for alcohol consumption. Alternating your more adult beverages with plenty of water keeps you drinking slower. It also helps you to stay hydrated and consume less calories from the alcohol. Drinking plenty of water is always a great idea, but it also helps your body process all the food and drink from the festivities.
Additionally, water can help burn calories. Without it, the body can’t properly metabolize stored fat or carbs. Water also helps the body to remove waste, which you’ll need after the festivities - Load up on veggies
Veggies contain a lot of antioxidants and fiber. They are also filling and low in calories.
You don’t have to give up any other food, but filling up on veggies means that you’re getting plenty of low-calorie green foods (like cabbage). You’ll also eat less of other richer and unhealthy foods (like corned beef). Green veggies are super festive too.
They also help ensure that your gut functions well. This is great because you might be consuming other food and drink that can make your tummy upset. - Choose your dessert before you eat
This study found that when choosing your dessert before you eat your meal, you actually consume less calories and pick more nutritious foods!
Now, this could be for a couple of reasons. When you’ve picked dessert, you’re more aware of a good (and probably rich) treat waiting for you. Being aware of something waiting for you at the end of your meal could make you pick healthier, more nutritious foods. This is because you know that you have an indulgence waiting for you. You’re also likely to not overstuff yourself so that save room for that wonderful dessert! - Eat and drink in moderation
A lot of the food and drink available on St. Patrick’s Day aren’t necessarily healthy. But be it alcohol, soda bread, or corned beef, moderation and portion sizing make all the difference! Knowing how much a serving of food or drink is can help you to decide how much you should be having. As with anything, moderation is key especially when the celebration is centered around unhealthy food and drink.
Being mindful while you eat also helps you to eat in moderation. Because you’re enjoying your food more, you’re less likely to shovel. - Try these delicious healthy takes on traditional Irish recipes:
– Vegan Corned Beef and Cabbage from Veggie Society which uses jackfruit in place of the beef.
– Healthy Shepherd’s Pie from Modern Proper which is dairy-free, gluten-free, and sugar-free.
– Cabbage Roll Soup from The Kitchn which is a quicker way make time-intensive cabbage rolls.
– Whole Grains Rosemary-Orange Irish Soda Bread from me…recipe below:
Orange-Rosemary Soda Bread with Whole Grains
- Prep Time: 20 min
- Cook Time: 35 min
- Total Time: 55 minutes
- Yield: 8 servings 1x
- Category: Bread
- Method: Oven
- Cuisine: Irish
- Diet: Vegetarian
Description
A healthier version of an Irish classic, this orange-rosemary soda bread is made with whole grains to up the nutrition.
Ingredients
- 400 grams (about 3 cups) whole wheat flour, plus more for dusting
- 100 grams (about 1 cup) oat flour
- 1 tsp baking soda
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 1 cup whole milk
- 1 sour orange, juice and zest (or 1/2 orange + 1/2 lemon)
- 1 egg
- 1 sprig rosemary, stem removed and chopped.
- 1 Tbsp olive oil
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 400°F. Place the cast iron skillet in the oven while you prepare the bread.
- In a small bowl, combine 1 Tbsp sour orange juice (or lemon juice) with 1 cup whole milk.
- In a large bowl, combine 3 cups whole wheat flour, 1 cup oat flour, 1 tsp baking soda, and 1/2 tsp sea salt. whisk together to break up any clumps.
- In a medium bowl, whisk together the egg, remaining juice of the sour orange, zest, chopped rosemary and 1 Tbsp olive oil. Add the milk mixture.
- Create a well in the flour mixture and slowly pour the wet ingredients into it, stirring until combined.
- Flour your hands and roll the dough into a ball, adding flour as need be. The dough should not be sticky and should hold together. If it’s too sticky, add a little flour at a time.
- Optional: slice an orange into thin pieces and place around the dough ball. If it doesn’t stick, spray a little water on the dough to encourage it.
- Remove the skillet from the oven and place the dough ball in its center. Using a sharp knife, slice an X about 1/4 inch deep into the dough and immediately place in the oven in the center rack. Cook for approximately 30-35 minutes or until the crust begins to brown and when you knock on the bottom, it sounds hollow.
Notes
Typically soda bread calls for buttermilk which you can use in place of the milk + sour orange juice mixture.
If you are unable to get sour oranges, use 1/2 an orange and 1/2 a lemon. You may also just use an orange, however when making the milk mixture, use either lemon juice or vinegar to ensure the milk sours and curdles a bit from the acidity.
Keywords: Irish, Soda Bread, Whole Grains, Bread
So enjoy a shamrock cookie, have a pint, and stay healthy on St. Patrick’s Day
