Keep your snack options healthy by offering bowls of pretzels instead of potato chips, popcorn instead of candy, and wedges of flatbread with garlic hummus or whole-wheat crackers and this delicious hot spinach dip instead of your usual chips:

Spinach Crock-Pot Dip

2 cups cooked spinach
2 cups shredded Swiss cheese
1 cup milk
1 packet Simply Organic Zesty Herb Marinade Mix
Mix all ingredients together in a crock-pot. Turn on high until cheese is melted, about 20 minutes, then turn to low.

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. They also taste great as part of many easy and delicious recipes- get ideas here.

Halftime: The Big Show

While some of your guests may stay glued to the TV for the halftime extravaganza (including the commercials!), 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 a flavor-enhancing marinade in Simply Organic's Mesquite BBQ Marinade Mix. 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. (Simply Organics top quality dip mixes offer a winning strategy of flavor, convenience and nutrition.) 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!

Soups and chili are popular and convenient game day foods. A crock-pot of hearty Black Bean Chili with a selection of toppings on the side -- such as tortilla chips, chopped onions, jalapeno peppers, grated sharp cheddar cheese, sour cream, sliced black olives, along with a bottle of hot sauce,  and diced cilantro -- is not only healthy, tasty and filling, but it can be prepared a day or two in advance so that you, too, can enjoy all the game day festivities. small shakers of Frontier or Simply Organic chili powder blends and cumin for those who want a little additional pizzazz to their chili. Here's a tasty chili recipe if you don't have a favorite of your own:

Vegetarian Tex-Mex Chili

Preparation time: 10 minutes
Cooking time: 35 minutes        
1 tablespoon olive oil
1 onion, chopped
1 clove garlic, minced
3 3/4 cups Italian-style peeled tomatoes, chopped, with juice reserved
1/2 cup vegetable stock or water
1/4 cup Frontier Chili Powder Fiesta, more if desired
1 tablespoon cornmeal
2 teaspoons sugar
1 teaspoon ground cumin seed
1/4 teaspoon ground cayenne, more if desired
1/4 teaspoon black pepper
Frontier sea salt, to taste
1 16-ounce can black beans, rinsed and drained
10 ounces frozen corn, thawed
1 jalapeño pepper (canned or fresh), seeded and chopped (be sure to wear rubber gloves when handling!)
1/2 cup cilantro, chopped
        
Heat oil in a heavy saucepan over medium heat. Sauté onion and garlic 5 minutes or until softened. Add next 8 ingredients and salt to taste. Increase heat to high and bring to a boil. Immediately reduce heat to medium low and simmer 15 minutes. Add beans and corn and simmer another 20 to 30 minutes, adding additional stock or water if chili becomes too thick. Stir in jalapeño pepper and cilantro just before serving.

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