What about fat free vanilla ice cream for those not worried about sugar? Or low sugar for those who do? With a dash of creme de menthe? It's a once a year treat.

A very ripe avocado mixed with sweetened condensed milk (preferably with a little green Creme De Menthe) put in a fridge to really cool makes a wonderful soothing dessert and looks like a tribute to good old St. Patrick.

Or as I did give her pea and ham soup!

For a healthier choice, I make Mom green smoothies with organic ingredients: a banana, chunks of frozen mango, green vibrance and miracle reds powders, blended with almond milk. She enjoys the taste, and at the same time she is getting a nutritious drink.

Erm I did suggest this to Mum ....for some reason she seemed averse to the idea....Her actual words were Im not drinking that it sounds like you're trying to kill me. Now given that Mum very rarely swears at all I can only assume she didn't want one!

You've got to admit the idea of including avocado in a shamrock shake sounds awful......Sometimes we over-think things, an occasional treat is not going to hurt most of us!

Or, you could just go to McDonald's and pick up a Shamrock Shake. I assume this is not going to become the mainstay of the daily diet.

Thank you for all the wonderful tips for cooking for the elderly! A friend has asked me to cook for her parents and this article has been extremely helpful.