St. Paddy’s Day is just around the corner, and that means wearing green for good luck and celebrating with your favorite Irish beer. That has me thinking about the famous Irish folktale about a leprechaun hiding its treasure at the end of a rainbow. While a pot of gold sounds rather appealing, I think radiant health is a much more valuable treasure to obtain.
To help you go truly green and feel great in your body post-celebration, I highlighted my tips and tricks to Irish fare.
Potatoes
Potatoes have been getting a bad rep lately, but they’re actually good for you. Filled with bloat-reducing potassium, fiber, iron, zinc and energy-boosting carbs, a medium potato has only 160 calories and boasts 4 grams of fiber and 4 grams of protein. But note of advice –skip the big calorie offenders like sour cream, butter and cheese. They’re the ones that can contribute to weight-gain and lethargy. Instead sprinkle your potato with some metabolism-boosting hot sauce and serve it with a side of green veggies.
Cabbage
Low in calories and high in fiber (only 22 calories per cup), this Irish staple can help you stay satisfied for hours. Best of all, cabbage is a part of the famous cruciferous vegetables that help protect the body from cancer. When I’m out at a typical Irish pub and there are no good vegetarian dishes, I always order a side of cabbage, one baked potato and a green salad.
Guinness
Personally, I prefer light, low-calorie beers such as Amstel Light, but when in an Irish pub, drinking what the Irish drink may not be too bad. Research has shown that dark beer like Guinness is actually packed with antioxidants. Just remember that it still has liver-suppressing alcohol, so limit your drink to one glass, which is about 125 calories.
Pictured: The Dubliner
Go Green in Boca’s Dubliner
If you like to indulge in Irish staples such as shepherd’s pie, but want to skip all the cholesterol, try Dubliner’s Vegetarian Shepherd’s Pie. If you are in the mood for dessert, split one Oatmeal Apple Crisp (skip the ice cream) with friends and then go for a nice walk around Mizner Park! (435 Plaza Real, Mizner Park, Boca Raton // 561/620-2540)
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About Alina Z.
Alina Z., aka “The Green Goddess,” is a certified holistic health coach, detox specialist and raw-food chef (she conducts occasional classes at Whole Foods in Boca). Prior to moving to Florida, Alina hosted her own TV show in Maryland—“Entertaining A to Z”—for people who didn’t have time to cook but wanted to eat healthy. Catch one of her web episodes at eHow.com, visit Alina’s website at alinaz.com, or follow her on Facebook (facebook.com/CoutureFood) or Twitter (@CoutureFood). The Green Goddess blog runs every other Wednesday at bocamag.com.
