Super Bowl Sunday is much like a white trash Thanksgiving. You get to hang out with friends, watch football, drink beer and eat lots of food all without the whole family and appreciation thing. However, the biggest difference is that it’s an all day snacking free for all – leading many to drastically underestimate the total number of calories consumed. The average number of calories people eat from snacks on a typical day should be less than 400, but on Super Bowl Sunday the average is 1200!
Here are some healthy alternatives and recipe ideas to try for the big game. Not hosting a party? Ask if you can bring something, we doubt the host will say no thanks.
The best part about the following 2 recipes are that they share many common ingredients making your lists shorter and less expensive.
Here is your grocery list for the two recipes:
4 Rustic Potatoes
Large Tub Sour Cream
Fat Free Cheddar Cheese
2 Large slicing tomatoes
1 Bunch Green Onions
Low Carb/High Fiber Whole Wheat Tortillas (Cedars or Josephs)
1 Grilled Chicken Breast
Homemade Potato Skins (86 calories vs TGI Fridays 281 calories)
Baked Potatoes
Fat Free or Low Fat Cheddar Cheese
Chopped Tomato (Or Bacon Bits)
Fat Free or Low Fat Sour Cream (or Plain Greek Yogurt)
Green Onion (Scallions)
Directions: Pierce cleaned potatoes with a fork and microwave for 10 minutes ( 5 minutes on high per potato). Allow to cool and cut down the middle. Scoop out insides, leaving about a 1/4 inch of pulp. Spray with some I Can’t Believe It’s Not Butter or rub inside and out with canola oil. Place potatoes on a baking sheet in the over for 20 minutes or until crisp at 375 degrees. Sprinkle tomato or bacon bits and cheese on top and return back to the oven until cheese is bubbly. Top with sour cream and a little green onion.
Superb Chicken Quesadillas
High Fiber Whole Wheat Tortillas (Like Joseph’s or Cedars)
Fat Free Cheddar Cheese
Diced Grilled Chicken breast
Chopped Tomato
Green Onion
Fat Free Sour cream
Directions: Heat and spray large round frying pan. Place tortilla onto hot pan and sprinkle with cheddar cheese, chicken, scallions and tomato. Let cook for about 3-5 minutes or until side facing down is starting to turn brown and crispy, then fold into half like an omlette. Let cook another 2-3 minutes until sides have melted together. Cut into 4 slices and top with sour cream and chives. YUM!
Buffalo wings and pizza are synonymous with Superbowl grub. That is why I’ve included two great alternative to the guilty duo.
Morning Star Buffalo Bites (5 bites for 200 Calories vs. typical chain restaurant serving 500 Calories)
I love anything made by Morning Star! I’m not a vegetarian but I am a health nut. Their chicken nuggest, veggie burgers, chick’n strips, everything is delicious so it came as no suprise to me when I tried the buffalo bites that I fell in love! Still a little high in calorie it’s a saving grace compared to typical wings.
Amy’s Cheese Pizza Snacks (5 bites 198 calories vs greasy average 1/8 of a pizza 275)
These frozen finger foods are a convenient and healthier option to eating pizza! Less fat and calories, they also make for a neater eating environment.
Want to see the foods and how delicious they look like? Check out the Healthy Superbowl Snack video from last year when I debuted these delicious recipes. Please excuse the Patriotic enthusiasm. If you only we knew our fate…
