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Everyone’s Irish on St. Patrick’s Day, at least in the community I come from. I always look forward to gathering with family and friends for the traditional Corned Beef and Cabbage Dinner complete with warm dinner rolls with butter oozing out of them. YUM.
My recently dietary guidelines certainly don’t include that type of a menu so I did some research to see find the nutritional value of a corned beef and cabbage meal and what other options I might have.
Here’s what I found.
Living Strong recommends limiting this to special holidays and not making a regular habit of eating corned beef. Corned beef is high in sodium and some cuts are higher in fat. Cabbage is low in fat and high in vitamins especially C which is an antioxidant that promotes healthy immune system. With portion control I can live with this.
Including a recipe, Calorie Count indicates 3oz of corned beef has 321 calories which isn’t too bad if you are just counting calories. Add in the potatoes, carrots, cabbage, dinner rolls, butter, and dessert… well, you might need to go for a walk after dinner.
Would you consider a healthy alternative all together? Try Eating Well’s Squash and Leek Lasagna, Warm Apple-Cabbage Salad and Whole Wheat Irish Soda Bread. All three for a total calorie count of 510. And much healthier choices.
If Spring is breaking in your area you may still want to go for a St. Patrick’s Day stroll.
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This is a favorite blessing my grandmother used to share with us each and every St. Patrick’s Day and even in between throughout the year.
An Old Irish Blessing
May the road rise up to meet you.
May the wind always be at your back.
May the sun shine warm upon your face,
and rains fall soft upon your fields.
And until we meet again,
May God hold you in the palm of His hand.
Happy St. Patrick’s Day to each and everyone of you!