Super Snack Spread for Game Day

By: Morgan Davis, RD, LDN

According to the Calorie Control Council (CCC), the average football fan will consume 1200 calories and 50 grams of fat, from snack foods alone, while watching the big game this Sunday. As a nation, this amounts to about 11 million pounds of potato chips, 8 million pounds of tortilla chips, 4 million pounds of pretzels, 4 million pounds of popcorn and 2.5 million pounds of nuts.

To burn those additional calories from super bowl snacks, you will need to set aside 2-3 hours and play your own game of touch football! While scheduling a pre-game workout session is a pretty great idea to contain some of those snacking calories, you can also use the following easy tips to lighten up the super bowl spread at your party this year.

Include low-calorie options

Fruit and vegetable dishes are naturally low-calorie choices. Include items such as fruit or vegetable salads, grilled vegetables, fresh vegetables and dips, and fruit kabobs to keep your guests healthy and happy.
Spice things up with salsa. Salsa is typically low-fat or fat-free and can be served as a flavorable topping for baked chips or homemade veggie-stuffed quesadillas. Fresh salsa can be prepared using almost any ingredient- give your favorite recipe a personal twist by adding black beans, roasted tomatoes, mango, jalepenos, cilantro or chipotle!
Bake or grill your foods instead of frying. When you bread and fry food such as chicken, you are increasing the calories by about 260%. Grilling is an easy way to keep your calories controlled and still maintaining lots of great flavor.
Lighten up your dip. Increase the nutritional value in vegetable dips by using fat-free plain Greek yogurt and cutting back on sour cream or mayonnaise. Add fresh dill and zesty chives to add flavor without added fat.

Keep your super bowl spread out of arm’s reach

Simply remove yourself from temptation by keeping your snack foods in a different location from where the game is being watched.
If you and your guests are forced to get up and walk to a different room to load up your plate, you will be less likely to overindulge on snack foods.
Keeping the snacks out of your field of vision will also help keep your mind on the upcoming play!

Potlucks Preferred

Shake things up and eliminate snacking at your party altogether.
Instead of asking guests to bring typical “football foods”, ask them to bring a specific meal component- a salad, a side dish, fresh fruit, a favorite chili recipe or something to throw on the grill.
Create a Super Potluck- by eating an actual meal together, you are decreasing the chances of constantly “grazing” on snacks while the game is being played.

So, regardless of which team you are pulling for this Sunday, you can avoid being one of the 1,200 calorie-consuming statistics! For more ideas, check out my ‘lightened-up’ super bowl menu.

On the Menu…

Instead of high fat Spinach and Artichoke Dip, try this lightened up version of the classic dip. To further increase the nutritional value, serve your dip with baby carrots, celery sticks and coloful bell pepper strips.

http://www.livebetteramerica.com/recipes/healthified-spinach-dip-with-artichokes/42d6f346-60c9-4fc6-be59-f77f58e1d250

Instead of Potato Chips & Onion Dip, try easy Homemade Yogurt Dip & Fresh Vegetables or Bean Dip and Whole Wheat Pita Chips!

http://cookingbettertogether.blogspot.com/2012/04/zesty-blue-cheese-dip.html

http://www.myrecipes.com/recipe/opposing-sides-two-bean-dip-10000000223218/

Instead of Nachos, try Quesadillas made with Whole Wheat Tortillas & Vegetables

http://www.eatingwell.com/recipes/barbecue_portobello_quesadillas.html

Instead of Fried Chicken Wings, choose Baked Buffalo Tenders or zesty Chicken Satay.

http://recipes.sparkpeople.com/recipe-detail.asp?recipe=373945

http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/tyler-florence/chicken-satay-with-peanut-sauce-recipe/index.html

Instead of Fried Onion Rings, try Crispy Baked Onion Rings

http://www.eatingwell.com/recipes/oven_baked_onion_rings.html

And instead of Cookies, Cupcakes, Brownies, try this recipe for delicious Fruit Kabobs & Yogurt Dip