For kids, St. Patrick's Day is all about the leprechauns—making traps, finding little green footprints in their classrooms, etc. But for adults, it's mostly about the food and alcohol—like every other holiday as an adult, come to think of it. Below are some tips and tricks to be festive and stay healthy this St. Patty's Day.
Start by skipping the artificial food coloring and eating some naturally green foods. Studies are inconclusive, but many have linked artificial dyes with ADHD. The holiday celebrates all things green so why not celebrate with dark, leafy greens instead of artificially dyed shamrock sugar cookies? Kale chips can be "magically delicious" with olive oil, sea salt and lemon juice, or some roasted brussels sprouts can make the perfect appetizer and satisfy salt cravings.
When you get to the main course, beware processed meats. The International Agency for Research on Cancer has suggessted that processed meats can cause cancer, so it might be best to skip the ploughman's platters and the corned beef. Instead, opt for healthy versions of these fat-laden favorites.
If you must eat the corned beef and cabbage, make sure to pile on the cabbage. Cabbage is full of vitamin C and great for digestion. For the ploughman's platter, try making chicken sausage instead. There are plenty of great recipes out there to remind you of the original.
Better yet, instead of focusing on cutting out unhealthy Irish fare, try out some healthy and traditional Irish recipes. There are tons of options to choose from, like lamb stew, an Irish standby. Just trim the fat and it's healthy, celebratory and delicious. No St. Patrick's Day feast is complete without soda bread, so get your carb-fix and fill up on fiber and nutrients with a whole grain version.
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Atlanta has several Irish pubs for after the feast, from Limerick Junction (822 N. Highland Avenue, Atlanta, GA 30306; 404-874-7147; limerickjunction.com) to Fado Irish Pub (273 Buckhead Ave. Atlanta GA 30305; 404-841-0066; fadoirishpub.com/atlanta) Avoid excess alcohol, but don't be afraid to have a drink or two.
Surprisingly, Guinness, whose factory is in Dublin, is one of the lowest calorie non-diet beers available. Don't let the full body fool you. This stout beer is lower in alcohol, carbs and calories than most of its competitors, including Coors and Budweiser. Irish whiskey has also been shown to have several health benefits, such as aiding weight loss and improving heart health—when consumed in small amounts of course. At 120 empty calories per glass, treat it like a treat and don't let it become an unintentional second dinner.
Finally, as with all things, moderation is key. It's a holiday, so by all means don't forget to celebrate and enjoy yourself. You can always burn off the extra calories by running in one of the St. Patrick's Day 5ks around Atlanta or by trying to chase a leprechaun to the end of the rainbow.
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