Winning Game Day Snacks
Recipes and Inspiration for Healthy Snacking on Game Day!
Put together a winning strategy for game day snacks featuring great-tasting foods that are healthier and more satisfying than the typical sports party menu of high-fat, high-calorie foods and beer.
There are plenty of nutritious
options for snacks that allow your sports fans to satisfy
the munchies without sacrificing their health.
If you're looking for game day snacks that have winning
taste and nutrition, the first thing you'll want to do is re-think those
standard potato chips. A one-ounce serving contains 150 calories, 90 of which
are from fat. That might not sound all that bad until you learn that a one-ounce
serving is generally just 10 to 20 chips, depending on the brand and the
type. It's more likely a guest will drop 20 chips in the
couch cushions than that they'll stop eating after that many, so some
addition (or multiplication) may be necessary to figure the real impact
of chips. Just a few handfuls of standard potato chips have the potential to add several hundred calories to the dietary scoreboard, so read those ingredient labels carefully (there are healthier chip options out there).
Also
consider offering fresh fruits and veggies and pretzels for dipping. (Be sure
to take a look at our Dip
Recipes!) Serve unbuttered popcorn, revved up with one of Frontier's
Popcorn Seasonings: Cheddar Cheese, Cheddar & Spice, Nacho Cheese, or
Sour Cream & Onion. You might want to make several flavors and encourage
guests to sample each.
Simply Organic also has a full line of regular and spicy dip mixes you can prepare with low-fat mayonnaise, low-fat sour cream, or plain yogurt to make them additionally healthy. The packets are perfect to have on hand when there are last-minute additions to the guest list.
While
some of your guests may stay glued to the TV during halftime, most will
take advantage of the break for some major refueling. Traditional bowl
game fare often includes vast quantities of high fat foods -- grilled hamburgers
or hot dogs, mini-sausages simmered in barbeque sauce, and the head-turning
(and potentially heart-stopping) deep-fat fried Buffalo wings. A single
wing (betcha can't eat just one) can contain 250 calories and 15 grams
of fat -- and that's before you dip them in the sauce (maybe 20 more calories
and a couple 2 grams of fat).
If your crowd can't watch a game without the wings, minimize the damage with a different method of preparation. Select your favorite Frontier Cajun, Barbecue or Mexican seasonings and prepare a rub. Vigorously rub the spices onto the wings and then grill them. If you prefer to brush on the flavor, blend the spices with a little honey and brush on toward the end of cooking time. Your guests will totally enjoy the results, but won’t have to deal with the extra fat (and pounds!) that come with the fried method.
Another tasty idea is to prepare a batch of pulled, barbequed turkey (you
can keep it hot in the crock-pot) and serve with whole wheat buns and quartered
dill pickles. Or buy several packages of turkey legs and toss them on the
grill after seasoning with Simply Organic's flavor-enhancing Chicken Seasoning (works on turkey too!). A pasta salad made with beans
and sliced vegetables would make a tasty side dish and would also provide
an option for your vegetarian friends.
If you’ll be serving grilled Buffalo wings, be sure the dips you
serve with them are also lower in fat and calories by preparing them with
lowfat mayonnaise, lowfat sour cream, or plain yogurt. The dips can can
be paired with a tray of healthy fresh-cut veggies — baby carrots,
celery, cauliflower, broccoli, green onions, cucumbers, sliced red and
green peppers, green beans, pea pods. Prepare in advance and store in sealable
bags for quick and easy refilling on game day. You might be surprised how
quickly the tray empties, and how often people go back for refills throughout
the day!
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