Better ways to eat at Super Bowl Parties

Do you LOVE Super Bowl Sunday? Do you love all the food, and festivities, family and friends? I’ll bet you do… just like my family does. Super Bowl Sunday and food go hand in hand, don’t they? I just heard on the radio that Americans will ingest 14,500 TONS of chips on Sunday. Isn’t that sad? Yes… sad.


Now that I have had life changing success with my health, and have re learned how to eat better, hearing news about so much junk food being eaten makes me shudder. Just thinking about all the salt, fat and processed food makes my ankles swell and my blood pressure go up!

So… I came up with some ALTERNATIVES to junk food for Super Bowl Sunday, so all of you can take a few dishes to a party, and 1. have something for yourselves to choose from that’s good for you, and 2. maybe help someone else get some healthy alternatives into their bodies too.

Here are some alternative choices…

1.Instead of mayo based macaroni salad…. do a lovely pasta salad with a vinigarette dressing

2.Instead of Jalapeno Poppers from a box… stuff some red peppers with brown rice, tomato sauce, feta cheese, parsley and seasonings and bake them up!

3.Instead of chips and dip… make a huge bowl of cut up fruit with a dip made from Greek Yogurt, cinnamon, brown sugar and lemon zest

4.Instead of soda… make smoothies or add wine to the smoothies for a nice adult beverage, or better yet… MAKE SANGRIA!

5.Instead of store bought cookies and cakes… make your own from scratch… and indulge a tiny bit… and give the rest away

6.Instead of hot wings… make hot chicken tenders…{less fat, more meat, all the flavor}

7.Serve Hummus as a dip alternative, and make a huge platter of delectable veggies.

8.Instead of store bought potato skins.. make you own, or make SWEET POTATO FRIES from scratch… and serve with lowfat sour cream dip
 
I love layered dips… but they can be so fat laden… Here’s a favorite recipe that isn’t fat free, but is still better for you than the store bought stuff, and once in great while won’t hurt your waistline or your resolve…

TACO DIP

2 cans refried beans (or homemade… mmmmm)

2 bricks good quality, no preservative cream cheese

2-3 tablespoons taco seasoning mix

4 cloves garlic, crushed

3 cups shredded cheddar cheese (try to get real cheese with few ingredients)

2 avocados, sliced and cubed into small dices

4 tomatoes chopped

2 cans black olives, chopped

1 cup chopped cilantro

In a large 12×9 or 12×15 baking dish, spread the two cans of beans to cover the bottom of pan… THEN combine in a bowl the cream cheese, taco seasoning, garlic, and 1 cup of the cheese and mix until well combined, and spread that all over the beans… SPRINKLE the rest of the cheese over that, and microwave for 5 minutes or bake at 350 for 10-15 minutes

When it’s all bubbly and warm, spread all the olive, tomatoes, avocado and cilantro over the hot, bubbling dip… and serve with whole grain crackers, organic chips or bread sticks…

I PROMISE YOU… no one will ever think this is somewhat good for them… just remember.. this is a “once in a while” food. Do I indulge? Sadly no, I can’t do cheese.. soooo…

I have devised a plan so I can enjoy some of it too…

I make a layered dish of beans, tomato, olive, avocado and cilantro and sprinkle over some fresh lime juice and a little salt, and make a gorgeous, light, “salsa” for my celery and jicama sticks… it’s pretty yummy.

Enjoy the Super Bowl and stay tuned for some great ideas for Valentines Day food!