Healthy St. Patrick's Day Snacks: The Ultimate List
Healthy St. Patrick’s Day snacks should be staples for any restaurant business. When creating a St. Patrick’s Day menu, just keep the basics in mind: fresh produce, healthy grains, and lean meat products. When adding a healthy section to your menu types, you can stick to these food categories as a simple guide. Of course, there are other nutritional components to be wary of, like high fat and sugar contents. However, by basing all your recipes on fresh and lean ingredients, you’ll automatically exclude over-processed ingredients from your kitchen.
In this blog post, we will go over several healthy St. Patrick’s Day snacks. But first, we’ll discuss the importance of offering guilt-free St. Patrick's Day party food. See below for the details:
The Need for Healthy St. Patrick’s Day Snacks
Many consumers are limited to which foods they can eat. While some people might opt for healthier options due to medical diagnoses, others may simply pursue a clean and healthy lifestyle all year round. With these factors in mind, it’s vital that you cater to your entire customer base.
Sure, there are many instances where holiday menus, even St. Patrick's Day food leans toward the unhealthy side. However, that doesn’t mean there can’t be more health-conscious options within the mix. As you design your list of St. Patrick’s Day food specials, we urge you to add a variety of healthy snacks to the appetizer list. You sure won’t regret the outcome of having a more inclusive selection.
7 Easy-to-Make Healthy St. Patrick’s Day Snacks
Are you in search of healthy St. Patrick's Day food ideas? If so, we’ve got you covered! From traditional St. Patrick's Day food to trendy green food for St. Patrick's Day, there are so many options that are healthy. See below for seven must-have menu items.
1. Green or Rainbow Fruit Skewers
Fresh fruit is always a safe go-to when serving healthy food items. So, present them on skewers for the ultimate convenience. But which ones will you serve? Well, you can choose all the green fruits that are in season in your area to reflect a green theme for St. Patrick’s Day. Or, you can add a piece of fruit of the six colors of the rainbow if you’re striving for more of a “leprechaun looking for a pot of gold” kind of theme.
2. Green Veggie Snack Platters
Veggie platters are a staple at festive gatherings. For one, you’re able to use festive plates to display your variety. Then, you can mix things up by adding multiple different dips. If you’d like, restaurant staff can make this one of the more festive and healthy St. Patrick’s Day snacks by sticking to green veggies or making the platter look like the Irish flag.
3. Spinach Dip and Whole Wheat Crackers
There are many ways to make spinach dip. Luckily, there are several healthy recipes for this party classic. If you want to operate one of the best bars for St. Patrick's Day, you’ll want to serve traditional classics and cool bar food ideas. So, opt for a low-calorie spinach dip recipe and pair it with a healthy bread or cracker, such as those containing whole wheat or grains. If you get the right combo, you may not even be able to tell the difference from other recipes.
4. Green Smoothies Served In a Pot of “Gold”
St. Patrick’s Day isn’t too far from summer, which means that people will probably begin ordering fruit and smoothie bowls around this time. So, create one of the best seasonal food trends and offer green smoothie bowls. First, you create a green smoothie with the help of spinach. Then, just add a variety of fruits, granola, and honey. If you want to go the extra mile for St. Patrick’s Day, serve them in black pots to resemble the gold at the end of the rainbow.
5. Guacamole and Whole Grain Tortilla Chips
The combination of guacamole and chips is one of the best Mexican appetizers. So why would you opt to serve it on an Irish holiday? The decision of whether or not you serve this snack will completely depend on how far you want to go with Irish traditions. If you’re trying to stick to authentic Irish recipes, then maybe ditch this one. But if you’re strictly concerned with having a green menu, this is a healthy option that’ll likely result in high sales.
6. Reduced Fat Pistachio Pudding
In regular St. Patrick’s Day snack menus, you might find something like pistachio cupcakes. But how can you take that kind of flavor profile and turn it into something healthy? Well, that’s where reduced fat pudding comes into play! By using milk with a lower fat content than others or a dairy alternative, you can make a healthy version of the typical recipe. If you really want to reduce the caloric value, opt for a zero-calorie sweetener, too!
7. Sugar-Free Mint Chip Ice Cream
There are so many ice cream brands that offer healthy alternatives to traditional recipes. So, serve customers a minty flavor that matches the green theme of St. Patrick’s Day. Mint chocolate chip is one of the best-selling food favorites in the world of desserts anyway, so this will always be a safe option.
Sell Snacks Via Online Ordering Apps
While many people enjoy going to their favorite bar and restaurant for St. Patrick’s Day, there’s a significant amount of consumers who prefer hosting parties at home. With this in mind, create a St. Patrick’s Day catering menu full of healthy snacks and share it on several food delivery apps.
You’ll quickly come to realize that by leveraging delivery apps, you’ll be able to capture far more sales than you would otherwise. Plus, this option offers customers a great sense of convenience. Over time, the ability to customize and schedule mobile orders will lead to greater customer satisfaction.
Ready to integrate your POS system with online ordering tools in order to achieve restaurant success this St. Patrick’s Day? Or, do you still have questions about how it all works? Either way, we’re here to help you out. Schedule a demo with Revolution Ordering today to get started!
Frequently Asked Questions About Healthy St. Patrick’s Day Snacks
You may not find healthy St. Patrick’s Day snacks on every menu. However, restaurants that offer them do an excellent job of implementing product differentiation. Just think about it–many consumers are limited when they dine out or opt for catering services. So when restaurant staff come up with healthy options, they’re inherently opening their doors (figuratively and literally) to a wider audience. If you’d like to learn more about the topic at hand, check out the FAQ section below!
Are There Such Things as Healthy St. Patrick’s Day Snacks?
Yes, there are absolutely healthy St. Patrick’s Day snacks that you can serve. A few staples include fruits, vegetables, low-sugar dips, and mixed nuts. You can even get creative and put together platters where you serve a little of everything. There are also many options that can abide by a green St. Patrick’s Day theme.
What Can You Put In a St. Patrick’s Day Snack Mix?
A St. Patrick’s Day snack mix can consist of a lot of healthy ingredients. Some of the best items to add to a St. Patrick’s Day snack mix bowl include:
- Almonds
- Cashews
- Walnuts
- Peanuts
- Pistachios
- Dried berries
- Mini pretzels
How Can You Eat Healthy On St. Patrick’s Day?
You can eat healthy on St. Patrick’s Day by avoiding dishes that are high in sugar, fat, and calories. Sticking to fruit, veggies, and lean meat will be your best bet. You can even put a variety of these kinds of foods together to make a healthy and festive St. Patrick’s Day snack mix. It’s also ideal if you steer clear of sweet mixed drink recipes and heavy beer brands. Instead, try opting for zero-calorie liquor and mixers.
What Are the Most Common Healthy St. Patrick’s Day Snacks?
The most common healthy St. Patrick’s Day snacks are typically things like fruit skewers and veggie platters. When there are festivities going on, it can be easy to go overboard with high-calorie snacks and dishes. However, you can replace a lot of unhealthy snacks with more nutritious substitutes.
What Are Five Food Items Associated With St. Patrick’s Day?
Five popular food items that are associated with St. Patrick’s Day include:
- Corned beef and cabbage
- Shepherd’s pie
- Colcannon
- Soda bread
- Irish potatoes
Healthy Snacks for Inclusive Menus
The addition of healthy St. Patrick’s Day snacks will be one of the best things you do for your eatery this March. A healthy section on a menu is never a bad idea in regular settings, let alone when you’re expecting a lot of orders. So, get creative with the menus and expect to see the order volume soar!