Super Bowl Super Healthy

Super Bowl Sunday! Whether you are a football fan or not, the Super Bowl brings on a great reason to get together and do some serious munching. Typical Super Bowl party fare around the TV includes incredibly high fat and high calorie foods: chips & sour cream dips, sliders, nachos, fiesta dips, and lots of beer. One high-fat, stuff yourself until you hurt party won't trash your long term goal toward a healthier you, but it certainly doesn't help, either. Let's see if we can come up with some healthier YOU party food options...

Salsa is a Super food! Rich in antioxidants, high in nutrient density, low in calories, and high in taste...and it counts as a vegetable! Serve lots of different types: hot, mild, medium, chunky, smooth, black bean, mango, verde, etc.

Tortilla chips. Tortilla chips are usually made from ground whole corn, which is a good thing. Choose a brand with less salt added. South-of-the-Border chips are great, they're my husband's favorite. Baked are really quite good, but if you think your fans will need regular chips, too, provide both. You could even mix a bag of both in every bowl you serve which creates a fun variety in each bowl.

Make your own chips, guests love them!

• Heat oven to 375.
• Cut fat-free corn tortillas into chip size wedges.
• Spray chips with olive oil cooking spray, or lightly brush with canola or olive oil.
• Bake until lightly browned, about 10 minutes. Flip over.
• Bake another 3-5 minutes.
• Sprinkle lightly with salt, if desired, or try adding a shake or two of cumin and chili powder.

Fiesta Layer Dip (close is good enough for this recipe!)

• Spread in layers on large plate or platter:
• 2 cans fat-free refried beans (try the black bean, yum!)
• Blend 8 oz. container of light sour cream together, 8 oz of Greek yogurt, and 1/2 pkg. taco seasoning mix (use more if you'd like, but it's higher in sodium.) Spread on top of beans.
• 3 cups shredded lettuce (darker leaves = healthier)
• 1-2 cans green chilies, drained
• 1 cup shredded light cheddar cheese
• 1/2 avocado, diced and tossed with 1 tsp. lime juice
• 1 small can sliced black olives, drained
• 4 green onions, sliced
• 2 tomatoes, diced

Fruit Kabobs

• Cube chunks of pineapple, strawberries, grapes, kiwi, or other firm fruit, and skewer on toothpicks. Fun and very popular!

Veggies and Dip

• Cherry and grape tomatoes
• Celery sticks
• Baby carrots
• Broccoli and cauliflower
• Kohlrabi
• Radishes
• Olives

Black Bean Dip

Straight from the jar is often great!

Make your own:

• 1 cup salsa
• 1 cup canned black beans, drained and rinsed

Or..

• 1 cup salsa
• 1 can fat-free refried beans
• sprinkle with light shredded cheddar cheese
• heat until hot

Creamy Dips

Make your favorite standby dip recipe, but use half light sour cream and half Greek style low fat plain yogurt to replace the full-fat sour cream. Result? No one will know the difference, and every body will thank you!

Creamy Salsa Dip:

• 1 cup Salsa
• 1/2 cup light sour cream
• 1/2 cup Greek style low fat plain yogurt
• 
  

Remember to offer plenty of light beer, calorie-free sodas, and bottled waters for lighter drink options for your guests!

Tomorrow, a recipe for your slow cooker on Sunday: Chicken Fiesta Soup.

Let us in on what you're serving for lighter Super Bowl fare!

-- What do YOU like to make for creamy dips? Do you have a special twist to share?

--What other dips and specialties can you think of that would serve up some health along with fun?

Remember: It's all about our choices... Make them healthy ones today!