Appetite for Knowledge

It’s that time of year when even non-football enthusiasts gather around the television to watch the Super Bowl football game, half-time show, and commercials.

Classic Football Foods

Where there is football, there has to be food. It’s in a rule book somewhere. And as host to any such gathering, you don’t want to face a penalty. Super Bowl foods tend to be notoriously unhealthy and are full of fat and sodium. Heavy dips, rich appetizers, and platters of heart-clogging foods seem to come at you like linebackers running a blitz. You feel like your willpower is about to take a sack.

Some Statistics

According to the Calorie Control Council and the Snack Food Association, the average armchair quarterback will consume 1200 calories and 50 grams of fat from snacking, and that doesn’t even count any meals!

Don’t Make a Fumble

This year, do not let high-fat, high-calorie Super Bowl snacks fumble your healthy eating game plan. Whether you are a host or a guest, develop a winning strategy before your Super Bowl party to help keep your snacking from going out of bounds.

Healthful and Tasty Snack Ideas

Are you hosting a Super Bowl party or bringing snacks somewhere for the big game? Score a touchdown with these healthful and tasty snack ideas:

• Crunchy apple or pear slices with low-fat yogurt dip
• Fruit kabobs with low-fat caramel and/or low-fat chocolate dip
• Melon, prosciutto and mozzarella sticks
• Frozen green and red grapes
• Crown kiwi slices with dollops of honey-sweetened sour cream and chopped pistachios
• Dried fruit tray
• Colorful raw vegetable platter with yogurt or cottage cheese dip
• Chopped smoked salmon on lettuce leaves and top with dill
• Wrap smoked salmon around a whole wheat pretzel rod
• Baked or grilled chicken wings
• Chili with extra-lean ground beef or low-fat ground turkey, a variety of beans, and tomatoes, and served with reduced-fat cheese and light sour cream for garnish.
• Baked chicken tenders served with honey mustard or barbecue sauce
• Wraps or sub sandwiches using whole-wheat tortilla/bread, low-fat mayonnaise, mustard, low-fat cheese, lean meats, and lots of veggies such as sliced tomatoes, onions, grated carrots, pickles, sliced cucumbers, sprouts, mushrooms and roasted red peppers
• Whole wheat crust pizza, vegetable pizza, or flatbread pizza
• Ground turkey, chicken, or lean beef meatballs
• Shrimp cocktails
• Lean meat and vegetable kabobs
• Smoked Turkey Pinwheels: spread a layer of softened cream cheese on sliced smoked turkey breast and top with thinly sliced tomato; roll up and cut into 1-inch pieces
• Low-fat angel food cake with berries and low-fat whipped topping
• Slather a store-bought crepe with creamy almond butter and roll up with fresh blueberries inside
• Fold smashed ripe nectarines into low-fat cottage cheese and spoon onto gingersnaps
• Chocolate dipped strawberries
• Stuff pitted prunes with Neuchâtel cheese and chopped almonds, then sprinkle with ground cardamom.
• Fruit crisp dessert
• Frozen yogurt pops
• Chocolate clusters: melt bittersweet chocolate and stir in chopped dried apricots, rolled oats and sunflower seeds; drop spoonfuls onto wax paper, then let chill.
• Water, flavored water, and fruit juice
• Shot of tomato juice by topping it with finely chopped cooked shrimp, scallions, and crumbled saltines
• Cucumber slices spread them with olive tapenade and garnish with chopped fresh tarragon.
• Prosciutto wrapped asparagus
• Celery sticks filled with cashew butter and topped with dried currants or craisins.
• Homemade trail mix with nuts, pumpkin/sunflower seeds, dried fruits, and fiber-rich cereal
• Whole grain crackers
• Bruschetta: small slice of Italian bread with a mixture of tomatoes, olive oil, garlic, and basil
• Kale chips
• Popcorn (without a lot of butter and salt)
• Whole wheat pretzels with honey mustard
• Baked sweet potato chips
• Mozzarella and grape/cherry tomato skewers
• Microwave smoked gouda slices and dried cherries on a whole wheat tortilla
• Ripe avocado quarters stuffed with wasabi-spiked imitation crab and drizzled with soy sauce
• Homemade guacamole
• Deviled eggs
• Pico de Gallo or fruit salsa with baked chips
• Nachos using baked tortilla chips and low-fat cheese
• Homemade bean dip with baked chips
• Mix spicy jarred corn relish with chopped tomatoes and cilantro; use it to top crunchy melba toast.
• Hummus with pita wedges and vegetables
• Oven “fried” pickles and low-fat buttermilk dressing
• Baked mozzarella sticks with marinara
• Zucchini fries
• Stuffed mushrooms
• Wrap a dill pickle spear in a paper-thin slice of ham and dip in ballpark mustard.
• Whole wheat quesadilla stuffed with grilled chicken, black beans, low-fat cheese and veggies

Your Super Bowl party this year does not have to be a venue where you are “carried off the field” due to overeating. Above all, enjoy the game!

Written by Vicki Hayman, MS, University of Wyoming Extension Nutrition and Food Safety Educator

Source:

• caloriecontrol.org