Your Healthier Super Bowl Menu
The Super Bowl is an American tradition and so is putting on an epic Super Bowl party, complete with all the delicious food options. I have compiled a Super Bowl menu that will knock your guests’ socks off while also helping you stay on track with your goals! Going to a friend’s house? Pick a couple of these options to bring so you know you will have healthy options to balance your plate.
o Planning tip: Aim for 1/3-1/2 lb. per person you are inviting to your party. If you have 10 people who will be eating, shoot for 4-5 lbs. of wings. You will need to adjust the recipe accordingly.
o Make sure to pat your wings dry. This will help to keep the skin crispy.
o Adjust the seasonings to your liking! The joy of cooking is playing around with seasonings, herbs, and spices. Seasonings are a fantastic way to add flavor, without adding calories! Be careful to avoid seasonings with a ton of sodium.
o For a low-calorie, high fiber dipping option, serve this dip with sliced veggies such as bell peppers, carrots, cucumbers, and celery in addition to the standard corn tortilla chips.
o By choosing a whipped cream cheese, we can cut the calories in half.
o Be aware, this snack is higher in sodium.
This is a fresh recipe packed with fiber and plant-based protein.
o Be sure to drain and rinse your canned items to wash off some of the sodium.
o Serve with tortilla chips or as a dressing over a bed of salad greens.
For a main dish, this crockpot taco chicken is always a hit! Use it as part of a burrito bowl bar, complete with all the fixings, for all your guests to enjoy.
A sweet treat that is sure to satisfy a sweet tooth! My favorite fruits to serve with this dip are strawberries, pineapple, and grapes.
Other tips for your Super Bowl festivities:
· Try to get some movement in before your party begins. Get a workout in, go for a walk, do something active. The activity will start your day off on the right foot. Getting into that healthy mindset can carry over to your eating choices too.
· Pace yourself with your food and be mindful when you are eating. It is easy to mindlessly snack throughout parties, especially when the food is always around, and the party involves watching TV while eating. Try to stay mindful when you are eating and pay attention to your fullness queues. Use the hunger scale to regularly check in. Remember, you are going to have hours at this party so you might want to start with 1-2 options and keep trying different foods as the afternoon and evening go on.
· Avoid alcohol, if possible. If you do drink alcohol, limit your drinking to just one beverage. Alcohol can not only add empty calories, but it also tends to result in us making different food choices. Studies have shown that people tend to choose more high fat, high sugar foods when consuming alcohol. The best option is to stick to water, but if you want something with flavor, you can grab your favorite non-calorie beverage or even throw a couple pieces of fresh fruit or cucumber in for some natural flavor!
If you give any of these recipes a try, please comment and let me know! And, as always, if you would like to work with us to help you achieve your health goals, click “book now” and let’s get started!
Best of health,
Elise Smith, RD, LRD, CPT