The Leprechauns Are Coming!

This St. Patrick's Day, let our little red haired, shamrock toting friends pay your young ones a visit. They will help parents who are always looking for new ways to make their kids eat healthy food.

Plant the Seed
Casually mention that you heard a rumor from one of the neighbors that the leprechauns are headed back to town this year and might visit some local houses. Explain that they come from the other side of the Atlantic Ocean to spread the good will of Saint Patrick who, among other things, miraculously drove all of the snakes out of Ireland. Use a box of Lucky Charms cereal as a visual and talk about the pot of gold that leprechauns hang out with at the end of the rainbow. Warn your kids that leprechauns have a temperamental streak, like most redheads, and they expect everyone to eat some of their favorite green foods including broccoli, spinach, avocados, lettuce green apples and celery. In fact, they are so obsessed that they just might turn other food green...

Make It Fun!
While the kids are asleep, scatter gold coins (chocolates covered in gold foil or non-edible toy money) all over the floor of their bedrooms. Act surprised when the kids notice them in the morning, "My goodness! The leprechauns were here!" Show them your shock when you pour green milk out of the carton (the kids don't need to know that YOU really turned it green with food coloring). Sneak some green shamrock shaped cookies, green frosted cupcake or green jelly beans into their lunch bag at school. Wonder out loud what the leprechauns could possibly be plotting...

Be Creative and Follow Through
After school mention that you did some research and found out that when the leprechauns visit a home, they want the kids to be healthy and strong, and expect them to eat a healthy dinner full of greens before leaving a pot of gold for good boys and girls. Serve your kids your healthy green foods of choice--spinach salad, split pea soup, stir fry with green peppers, broccoli as a side dish, there are many options. You can also opt for Celestino Drago's insanely delicious Basil Pesto Spaghetti. If they eat properly, towards the end of dinner tell them that you think you heard someone running in the other room. Tell the children to hurry up and finish so that you can all investigate. When the plates are wiped clean, lead them to a corner in the backyard or a cubby in their bedroom. Viola! There is the "pot of gold" from the leprechaun. It can be anything from a new basketball, DVD, board game or basket full of toys. Yay, the leprechauns left presents!

While Santa Claus checks off who's been naughty and nice over the winter holidays, come March, these little green rascals from the Emerald Isle will give you creative options for convincing your stubborn offspring that eating green is the right way to go. Have fun and Erin Go Bragh!

— Written by Caroline Alexa McBride

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