Green for St. Patrick's Day

St. Patrick's Day is Saturday, March 17. You don't have to be Irish to go green for St. Patrick's Day by eating more dark green veggies or enjoying the greenery outside by being more physically active.

We know that spinach and romaine lettuce are dark green veggies, but have you tried kale or arugula? Both can be used for salads or eaten as a veggie side. If you like pesto, here is an alternative recipe using arugula (and delicious I might add, because I've made it) and walnuts instead of traditional basil and pine nuts.

Arugula-walnut pesto (from Oldways)

¾ cup California walnuts, toasted
1 bunch arugula, washed, with stems removed (2 ounces of clean stemmed leaves)
½ cup extra-virgin olive oil
1 tablespoon (about 3 cloves) chopped garlic
1 tablespoon grated Parmesan cheese
1 tablespoon lemon juice
½ teaspoon salt

Instructions: 

In a food processor fitted with the metal blade, combine all of the ingredients and process for 1 to 2 minutes, stopping once or twice to scrape down the sides of the bowl, until the pesto is smooth.

Did you know that you can add spinach to a shake with fruit and you won't taste the spinach, but you will taste the yummy fruit? Try different combinations of spinach, berries/bananas/other fruits you enjoy, milk and ice cubes to find what your family likes. You can find recipes if you Google "spinach shake."

Some other healthy green fruits and veggies to try for St. Patty's Day: green grapes, Granny Smith apples, asparagus, broccoli, Brussels sprouts, avocados, green beans, peas, kiwi, cucumbers, zucchini, and honeydew melon. Try a new one today!

Don't forget to eat a rainbow of colorful fruits and veggies to get all the nutrients we need everyday.

We have had such wonderful weather lately, so it's time to get outside and get some more physical activity. Go for a walk, bike ride, or get the whole family involved in a game or sport outdoors.

Some towns have 5K's or 1 mile walks/jogs for St. Patrick's Day. Look at your local event calendar or in your local media to see if you can find one to help meet your physical activity goals.