Earlier today, I was thinking about different topics to write about on the AF blog. While brainstorming, it also dawned on me that today is St. Patrick's Day, and then it hit me like a bag of potatoes!! I would share some Irish wisdom as it pertains to staying healthy and fit!
For many years, the Irish people have been stereotyped as potato -eating, beer-guzzling stouts. However, in a survey conducted a few years ago, it was found that Ireland's obesity rate was less than half the rate of the U.S. So, maybe there are some things that we could learn from the Irish lifestyle to help keep the pounds off and stay in shape...
1. Eat your breakfast!
Like many Northern European countries, the Irish tend to make breakfast their biggest meal of the day. This tradition of a hearty breakfast most likely stemmed from the farming community. Farmer's would come in after their early morning chores to eat a substantial breakfast because their bodies had been low on glycogen from working hard in the wee hours of the morning.
You have probably heard by now that breakfast is the most important meal of the day. Upon waking, our metabolism is still in sleep mode. If we skip breakfast, we stay in that slow-burning metabolism mode. If we have a decent breakfast, we won't be so hungry later in the day that we'll binge at lunch or dinner.
2. Go for the green veggies!
If you grew up in an Irish household like me, every St. Patrick's Day meant cabbage on the menu since cabbage is a staple in Irish cuisine. But not just cabbage; other leafy greens like kale are also popular choices. Cabbage has high levels of iron, calcium, potassium, vitamins C, B1, B2, B3, and D. People that eat a large amount of cabbage and other cruciferous vegetables have a lower risk of developing colon cancer. Cabbage and leafy greens are also very low in calories. If cabbage isn't your cup of tea, then possibly consider mashing the cabbage or kale together with potatoes and other ingredients like onions, garlic, or leeks.
3. Boil the meat!
The Irish and English are often made fun of for their custom of boiling their meats and vegetables until all flavor is gone. Yet on the other hand, us Americans do nothing but deep-fry the heck out of anything we can get our hands on. If you want to add a little bit of flavor to your dish, try poaching a chicken breast, turkey breast or fish fillet in wine or a flavored broth with garlic and onions and your favorite vegetables. The seasoning for your dish is only limited by your imagination.
4. Get to the root of it!
In addition to green vegetables, Irish cuisine also features a lot of root vegetables besides potatoes. These veggies include carrots, parsnips, turnips, and rutabagas. They contain lots of vitamins, minerals, antioxidants, and fiber, while still being pretty low in calories. They're pretty tasty, whether boiled, roasted, or mashed, or in some cases, eaten raw. Try replacing the potatoes in your favorite recipes for other root vegetables instead. it will zest up the dish, add extra nutrients and bring down the calorie count.
5. Think pink!
Since the country of Ireland sits on an island, it has access to vast amounts of seafood, especially salmon. Salmon is rich in omega- 3 fatty acids and is also a great source of protein and other nutrients, while low in calories and fat.
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