St. Patrick’s Day is quickly approaching and with green being a major theme of the holiday, it’s the perfect opportunity to incorporate some healthy green recipes! You don’t even have to rely on food coloring—nature is full of healthy green foods for your St. Paddy’s day snacks. Here are some easy recipe ideas you can implement while on the Optimal Weight 5 & 1 Plan^® to celebrate this green holiday the healthy way:

• Herb and Arugula Baked Eggs. Simply throw some eggs, herbs, and arugula in a skillet and bake until cooked through. Add any other green veggies you’d like to take it up a notch!
• Kale Chips.  This tasty snack is the perfect healthy alternative to potato chips. Preheat the oven to 275 degrees F, remove the ribs from the kale, and cut into one and a half inch pieces. Lay on a baking sheet and toss with olive oil and salt. Bake until crisp, turning the leaves halfway though, for about 20 minutes.
• Crispy Green Beans with Pesto. All you need are fresh green beans, pesto sauce, garlic, and olive oil for this tasty recipe. Simply heat the olive oil, then add the garlic and green beans and sauté for about six minutes, or until the green beans are cooked but still crispy. Then toss the beans with the pesto sauce and serve.
• Cucumber Cups with Crab. Cucumbers make great edible serving cups when cut into two-inch chunks and hollowed out. Combine sour cream and cream cheese in a bowl and add crab meat. Simply fill each of the cucumber cups with the crab dip and refrigerate until ready to serve. Garnish with scallions and paprika before serving.
• Pesto Shrimp Cucumber Rolls. This recipe is similar to the cucumber cups, except you’ll roll pesto sauce and sautéed shrimp in thin, vertical slices of cucumber. Use a toothpick to keep the rolls intact and refrigerate until ready to serve, then garnish.

For the appropriate condiment serving recommendations, please refer to the OPTAVIA Condiment List.  Ask me, your OPTAVIA Coach, about other healthy alternatives you can enjoy this St. Patrick’s Day on your journey to Lifelong Transformation, One Healthy Habit at a Time™.

I Feel Alive

“In September 2017, I went into congestive heart failure directly after back surgery. I knew I had to make a change. This was my wake up call to take my health back.”

With the support of her daughter and son-in-law, Nancy committed to the OPTAVIA Program.

“My Coach taught me how to apply the Habits of Health^® and guided me every step of the way. The OPTAVIA Community is also super! I felt like I had my own personal cheerleading squad. I couldn’t have done this without them.”

In about five months, Nancy lost 40 pounds* and noticed significant improvements in her health.

“I can walk without losing my breath, sleep wonderfully, and I learned some healthy habits! I’m moving better and, best of all, my memory has blossomed and my mind is clear!”

Nancy is happy that she’s able to socialize with her friends at the local marina again. She also looks forward to family time and visiting her grandchildren now that she’s able to walk up and down the long stairs to their home.

“Now that I’m an OPTAVIA Coach, I’m able to pay the gift of health forward! Best of all, I’ve regained self-esteem and I feel like I have a purpose again. I feel alive!”