Luck O' the Irish!

Happy St. Patrick's Day, Healthy Chasers!!!!

Worried about sticking to the meal plan in the face of celebrating all things Irish? 
Here are some little known healthy fun facts about the traditional foods of St. Patrick's Day:

• Corned Beef is high in protein, zinc, B-vitamins, and thiamin - a 3oz. serving is only 210 calories! 
• Cabbage is an excellent source of vitamin C, folic acid, and of course, FIBER!
• Potatoes are a complex carb - and contain protein (as much as an egg!), calcium, iron, potassium, zinc, and vitamin C - plus the skins have fiber!
• Guinness - Did you know that this dark Irish Beer has been found to reduce the risk of blood clots that cause heart attacks and improve blood flow and pressure? It is also high in flavonoids, an antioxidant!

Here's a Corned Beef and Cabbage (with Potatoes and Carrots) Recipe that's nutritious and delicious:

1. Buy the leanest corned beef you can find and then trim off as much fat as possible before cooking and wash under running water to remove surface brine.

2. The longer you cook the corned beef brisket, the more tender it will be. I always bring the water with the beef and seasonings to a boil then simmer for at least one hour per pound. When done a fork inserted into the meat should easily pierce through to the center.

3. Use a pot large enough to cover the meat fully and have room to add vegetables later.

4. Always cut the corned beef in thin slices, diagonally across the grain.

5. Corned beef comes with a seasoning packet. This is a good choice of spices.

Cooking: When the meat is about a half an hour away from being done, start adding your vegetables. We have chopped potatoes, celery, baby carrots and cabbage ready to add in stages based on the amount of time required to fully cook them. Many people also like to add onions and/or turnips.

The carrots and potatoes can go in the broth together first since they take the longest to cook. Celery (if desired) can go in within the next 5 minutes. Add the cabbage when there is about 15 minutes of cooking time left. We like our cabbage a bit firm.

Continue cooking until the vegetables are of desired firmness. A good test is to pierce them with a fork to see how they feel. 

(Recipe courtesy of www.healthyrecipeoftheweek.com)



 Happy St. Patrick's Day!!!