Happy St. Patrick’s Day!

When I think of St. Patrick’s Day, several things come to mind: the color green, Irish stew, green beer, etc. Healthy eating may not be the first thing that comes to mind, but when you really think about it, an Irish stew can actually be a very healthy meal, and very inexpensive too.

Historically, Irish stew was very basic: potatoes, meat (usually lamb), and few spices. Now, there are many variations; many people will add onions, carrots, turnips, leeks, etc. To keep Irish stew healthy, use a small portion of meat and choose only lean cuts of meat (if any meat at all). Add LOTS of vegetables and lots of spices. To save yourself some time, dice your meat (if using) and wash & chop your vegetables the day before and seal in a tightly closed container. You can then throw in all your ingredients into the crock pot before you go to work and when you get home it will be ready.

For a healthy dessert, try baking some apples. All you need to do is core your apples, sprinkle with a little cinnamon and very small amount of brown sugar, place in a pan with a little water in the bottom and bake at 375 degrees for about 30 minutes. Serve with low fat vanilla ice cream or frozen yogurt.

To see an example of Irish Stew being prepared (and for more historical information on St. Patrick’s Day), visit the History Channel’s website: http://www.history.com/minisites/stpatricksday/