Celebrate St Patrick’s Day With The Skinny Food Co.

St Patrick’s Day (celebrated on 17th March) honours the patron saint of Ireland, and in recent years, it has evolved into a global celebration of Irish culture. 

But if you’re watching your calorie intake, trying to lose weight, or following a Keto diet plan, you might worry that traditional foods and drinks will be off-limits to you on St Paddy’s Day.  

Read on to discover how you can embrace the spirit of Saint Patrick’s Day while staying on track with your diet goals. 

What are Traditional St Patrick’s Day Foods?

Corned beef and cabbage is a classic St Patrick’s Day dish. The good news is that cabbage contains just 17 calories per cup, and it provides plenty of fibre and essential vitamins. 

Corned beef isn’t quite so diet-friendly, so if you want a healthier take, try swapping traditional corned beef for a leaner cut of grass-fed brisket. This provides high-quality protein with far less saturated fat. And if you want to reduce salt, you can make your own spice blend using pink peppercorns, mustard seeds, and coriander. 

Another Irish staple is the humble potato. Try roasting baby potatoes with their skin on for extra fibre. If you fancy making colcannon, this low-carb cauliflower colcannon by Michelle Tam is ideal for anyone keeping an eye on their blood sugar levels. 

Smart Swaps for St Patrick’s Day

Traditional Irish soda bread can be made healthier by using whole wheat flour and adding seeds for extra protein and healthy fats. If you’re tracking your carb intake, almond flour will maintain the spirit of Irish soda bread while being more blood sugar-friendly. 

Many people add a drop of green food colouring to their beer on St Patrick’s Day! But if you want a low-calorie green drink, you could sip on sparkling water with a splash of sugar-free mint syrup and lime, green tea served over ice, or a glass of refreshing cucumber and mint-infused water. 

Activities To Keep You Moving on St Patrick’s Day

St Patrick’s isn’t just about food and drink. Many communities host activities like fun runs on the weekend closest to St Patrick’s Day. Participants are encouraged to dress in green, and it’s a great way to burn a few calories as you celebrate!

You could also attend a Celtic dance class. Traditional Irish dancing can burn 500-600 calories per hour (plus it’s super fun and social!)

Celebrating Irish culture and tradition shouldn’t have to mean giving up on your diet goals. Making mindful choices and creative substitutions means you’ll be able to fully embrace the fun and festivities of St Patrick’s Day whilst staying on track with your meal plan. 

Sláinte!