Paula Wolfson, wtop.com
WASHINGTON – The Super Bowl is the number two eating occasion of the year, right after Thanksgiving. But that doesn’t mean there isn’t a way to have a healthier Super Bowl party.
“What we want to do is something called ‘stealth health,'” says Jennifer Shea, a registered dietitian with the Shoppers grocery chain. She says that means lightening up the recipes just a bit, starting with dips and spread.
Traditional football snacks include chips, dips, pizza, chicken wings and assorted other goodies loaded with fat and salt.
Light sour cream is a good substitute for regular, as is Greek yogurt, which is an ingredient in Shea’s “phenomenal” 9-layer dip. She says skip the chicken wings and “fire up the grill and do some chicken skewers, do some kabobs with lean beef, or with chicken and veggies.”
Another idea for Super Bowl parties is to let guests make their own personal pizzas using prepared whole wheat or whole grain crusts with fresh toppings. And while some may scoff at a veggie tray, Shea says Super Bowl parties are a time for mindless eating and drinking.
“If they are mindlessly eating and reaching out for what is in front of them they can reach out for those veggies,” says Shea.
They can also reach for an alternative to beer or sugary sodas. She suggests stocking up on cans of seltzer for your Super Bowl party. It has the fizz of beer or soda “but it doesn’t have all that added sugar or calories.”
Here’s her recipe for that “phenomenal” dip:
Quarterback Chip and 9-Layer Dip
Prep Time: 15 minutes Serves: 10 Ingredients:
- 1 15oz can black beans, rinsed and drained
- 1 avocado, peeled, pitted and diced
- 2 jalapeno peppers, seeded and diced
- 1 cup low fat Greek Yogurt
- 1 cup salsa, chunky
- 1 cup reduced fat Mexican blend shredded cheese
- 1/2 cup of black olives, sliced
