5 Green Foods To Start Your Unofficial With

Waking up at 6:00 in the morning to binge drink is only truly acceptable one day a year at UIUC. That day this year is Friday, March 3, which is also known as Unofficial. You definitely will not want to start this day-long event on an empty stomach, so we've got you covered. 

The following is a list of the top green foods that will start your Friday of skipping classes to get drunk off right. Pair your breakfast with one of these seven genius ways to make green beer without food coloring and you'll be set for a fun day ahead.

Spinach Muffins

• Prep Time:10 mins
• Cook Time:20 mins
• Total Time:30 mins
• Servings:12
• Easy

Ingredients

• 2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 1/2 teaspoons cinnamon
• 3 teaspoons baking powder
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 3/4 cup milk
• 1 large egg
• 1 banana
• 3/4 cup spinach
• 1/2 cup butter
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1/2 cup honey

• Step 1

  Preheat the oven to 350° F. Combine the flour, cinnamon, baking powder and salt in a large bowl.

  

• Step 2

  Blend the rest of the ingredients until smooth with a blender. Stir the green mixture in with the dry mixture.

  

• Step 3

  Prepare a muffin tin and add about 2 tablespoons of dough to each.

  

• Step 4

  Place them in the oven for 20 minutes. Serve and enjoy!

  

These muffins aren't as bad as they sound! Although there's spinach in them, these muffins are actually pretty sweet.

You'll definitely need lots of vitamins and minerals to boost your defenses when you start drinking this Friday. Leafy greens, like spinach and kale, are perfect to eat before going out. Spinach contains the protein, iron, vitamins and minerals your body needs to prepare for Unofficial.

Green Pepper and Fried Eggs

• Prep Time:2 mins
• Cook Time:5 mins
• Total Time:7 mins
• Servings:3
• Easy

Ingredients

• 1 large bell pepper
• 3 large eggs
• 1 tablespoon butter
• salt and pepper

• Step 1

  Slice the pepper.

  

• Step 2

  Heat up a little bit of butter on a frying pan. Place the green peppers in the pan.

  

• Step 3

  Crack each egg open and pour it into the clover shaped green pepper. Let the eggs cook all the way through on medium heat. Add salt and pepper to taste. Sprinkle cheese on top (optional).

  

These look like four-leaf clovers, so that's adorable. Eggs are perfect to eat before a day of drinking because they contain the amino acid needed for your body to break down alcohol. Eggs are also one of the best foods to cure a hangover, making them an awesome post-Unofficial snack, too. 

Green Pancakes

• Prep Time:2 mins
• Cook Time:10 mins
• Total Time:12 mins
• Servings:4
• Easy

Ingredients

• 1 cup all-purpose flour
• 2 tablespoons sugar
• 2 teaspoons baking powder
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1 cup milk
• 1 large egg
• 2 tablespoons melted butter
• 1 teaspoon green liquid food coloring

• Step 1

  Mix the dry ingredients together in a large bowl. Add the wet ingredients and whisk.

  

• Step 2

  In a medium-sized pan, pour out some of the mix. Cook on medium heat.

  

• Step 3

  Flip when cooked through. Serve with butter and syrup (optional).

  

While there's not much nutritional value to these pancakes, they are pretty festive, and therefore a perfect way to start your Unofficial. 

Avocado Toast

• Prep Time:5 mins
• Cook Time:0
• Total Time:5 mins
• Servings:1
• Easy

Ingredients

• 1 avocado
• 2 slices bread
• salt and pepper

• Step 1

  Toast the bread. Dice the avocado and add it to the toast. Use a fork to mash. Add salt and pepper to taste.

  

Avocado toast is as basic as it gets, but who cares. Avocado is filled with healthy fats and is digested more slowly than carbs, meaning it's the perfect thing to eat before binge drinking. Feel free to add an egg to this for additional nutritional value.  

Green Smoothie

• Prep Time:5 mins
• Cook Time:0
• Total Time:5 mins
• Servings:1
• Easy

Ingredients

• 1 cup kale
• 1 cup spinach
• 1 banana
• 1/3 cup Greek Yogurt
• 1/2 cup orange juice

• Step 1

  Blend all of the ingredients in a blender until smooth.

  

• Step 2

  Optional: Add frozen fruits to sweeten.

  

Fuel your body up with nutrients and electrolytes from a green smoothie to keep yourself hydrated before you head out the door Friday morning. For additional ideas, check out How to Make a Perfect Green Smoothie.

And to avoid stumbling down Green Street before noon, check out what other foods are a must before drinking, to ensure a safe Unofficial celebration.