Vegan St. Patrick’s Day

Homemade green food dye / Source

Food colors / Recipes / Cocktails & Mocktails

Because artificial colors are everywhere.

Green is the official color for St. Patrick’s Day.

Stores pack their shelves with green hats, glasses, beads, cups, and t-shirts. Bars serve up mugs of green beer and other green-hued cocktails. Grocery stores serve green frosted cookies, cakes, and cupcakes with impossibly cute green sprinkles.

Green, green, everywhere you look! Generally, these food and drinks get their colors from artificial food colors.

I am not a fan of artificial food colors.

These toxic chemicals masquerading as food are only possible through the wonder of chemistry and the oil drilling industry. Studies have shown various adverse health effects from ingesting them. And did you know that artificial food colors undergo animal testing to ensure their safety as a food additive?

It’s true.

Every time a holiday approaches, artificial colors go on sale. Magazines, blogs, and videos feature impossibly cute and creative treats made with various unnatural colors achieved through the magic of artificial colors.

There’s a better way; to make bright, vivid colors at home.

Look at that green up there! Spectacular! And it's easy to make from everyday ingredients in your fridge or pantry.

Trust me; it’s not complicated or expensive.

Click here for the full step-by-step homemade food coloring tutorial.

Would you prefer to buy green vegan food dye? No problem.

Here are a few that are colored with vegetable juice or spices and contain no synthetic dyes.

Disclosure: These two options contain affiliate links I earn from qualifying purchases. See my Affiliate Policy for more details.

I picked up a few packets to test out on my favorite sugar cookies.

I’m a fan.

First, the colors come packaged in individual packets, which means I don’t over-buy. Second, the colors mix easily and create beautiful colors. I don’t even mind that they’re more pastel than bright. Lastly, they’re budget-friendly.

Here’s a 10-pack, Color Kitchen Food Colors from Nature, that makes a good starter pack.

By far, these colors are the cheapest and the most widely available. The powdered colors come in a pack of three colors which you can mix for a variety of colors.

I bought this McCormick Nature’s Inspiration Food Colors pack when I made these unicorn sugar cookies. Just look how vivid the colors turned out!

Food colors / Recipes / Cocktails & Mocktails

Are you ready to cook? Here are vegan recipes for inspiration.

Toasting with beer / Source

Food colors / Recipes / Cocktails

Does your favorite drink or cocktail contain more than just alcohol?

Some beer and wine go through a clarifying process that uses animal products such as isinglass (fish bladders), egg whites, or gelatin. And because alcohol is commonly exempt from labeling requirements other food products have, these ingredients are rarely listed on the packaging.

Luckily, there’s an easy-to-use website for that. Without a doubt, Barnivore is the go-to website to check the vegan status of most beers and wines. Together, you can find these vegan products at almost any store.

Here are a few popular brands that are suitable for vegan imbibers.

• Barney Flat's Oatmeal Stout
• Harvest Moon Paddy’s Irish Stout
• Harvest Moon An Irish
• George Killian’s Irish Red
• Guinness (yes, it's vegan now)
• Michelob Irish
• Rogue Irish Lager
• Samuel Smith’s Imperial Stout

• Blue Moon
• Budweiser (except the Clamato Chelada)
• Coors & Coors Light
• Corona
• Heineken
• Miller Lite, High-Life & Genuine Draft
• Pabst Blue Ribbon
• Sam Adams Ale (except Cherry Wheat, Honey Porter, or Latitude 48)
• Sierra Nevada Pale Ale
• Stella Artois
• Yuengling

A lot of craft beers are also vegan. Just ask your bartender before ordering.

• Frey Vineyards (all varieties)
• Orleans Hill (all varieties)
• Sutter Home (Riesling, Zinfandel, Cabernet Sauvignon, Gewürztraminer, and Chenin Blanc)
• Yellowtail (red wines only; not the white or the rosé)

It isn’t always apparent which wines are vegan or vegan-friendly by the label. Unless its vegan status is listed on the label, I strongly recommend checking Barnivore before purchasing.

Hard liquors like tequila, bourbon, whiskey, vodka, gin, and rum are vegan, as are nearly all distilled spirits except those with a cream base or honey.

Here are a few familiar brands:

• Absolut Vodka
• Grey Goose Vodka
• Skyy Vodka
• Appleton Estate Rum
• Bacardi Rum
• Malibu Rum
• Tanqueray Gin
• Beefeater Gin
• Cazadores Tequila
• Hornitos Tequila
• Patron Tequila
• Black Velvet Whiskey
• Jim Beam Whiskey
• Jameson Irish Whiskey

If something premade doesn’t tickle your fancy, try making your own. I gathered up a few recipes to help inspire you.

Go, have fun. Meet up with friends. Dance with people and have a good time. When you are ready to leave, don’t drink and drive. Plan ahead. Get a designated driver, call a cab, or get a Lyft or Uber. Call a friend, or call your mom.

All it takes is one accident to change lives. It’s not worth it.

Drink Responsibly.