Fit Football Snacks
Cooler days, color changes, outdoor exercise and, of course, football — those are four things that make it feel like fall to us. If you’re as excited for this year’s football season as us, but not as much for the high-calorie food and snacks that go along with it, we’ve rounded up some healthful options. Now you can feel as good on game day as your (hopefully winning) team does.
(See also Game Day Greats)
When Staying In
Volunteer to host the game so you have control over what is served. Or, make it a potluck and have everyone bring a health-inspired dish. These quick and easy-to-serve recipes are so simple that you can even get the little ones involved, something we’ve learned is important from Together CountsTM. Some of our favorite bites are:
Black Bean and Corn Salsa: Serve with tortilla chips and cut-up veggies.
Chicken and Veggie Quesadillas: Sprinkle reduced fat Mexican blend cheese, sautéed chopped onion, and diced mushrooms (or any veggies that you have on hand) between two whole wheat tortillas sprayed on one side with cooking spray or olive oil. Heat in a sauté pan or griddle until the tortillas are crispy on the outside and the cheese is melted in the middle. Cut into triangles and serve topped with non-fat plain Greek yogurt, salsa, and diced avocado.
Mini English Muffin Pizzas: Top whole grain English muffin halves with marinara, part skim or 2% mozzarella, and sliced green peppers, mushrooms, and onions. Bake in the oven or toaster oven at 400 degrees until cheese is melted and bubbly, about 7-10 minutes.
Not-So-Devilish Deviled Eggs: Prepare hard cooked eggs and cut each in half lengthwise. Remove yolks and mix half of the yolks with non-fat Greek yogurt, Dijon mustard, chopped onion, and diced red pepper and until creamy. Refill each egg white half with the egg yolk mixture and top with paprika.
Air-popped Popcorn with Parmesan and Pepper: Toss air-popped popcorn with Parmesan cheese, fresh grated pepper (or your favorite spicy seasoning blend), and olive oil for a sophisticated twist on a classic snack.
When Ordering Out
Thin-Crust Pizza: Opt for a thin crust pizza with lots of veggies and a side salad with grilled chicken (dressing on the side).
Boneless, Skinless Wings: If you’re ordering for a group and can’t resist the urge for wings, order the boneless, skinless kind and only get enough for everyone to have one.
With these easy and nutritious bites you’ll be able to plan a more healthful game day experience that will have all of your party guests huddled around the snack table.
What’s your typical football watching fare? What swaps are you making on game day?
This post was originally published on the BeeWell for Life blog. BeeWell for LifeTM is a health and wellness community created by Bumble Bee Foods® to promote healthy lifestyles and raise donations to fight diabetes, heart disease and breast cancer.
Stephanie Clarke and Willow Jarosh, the authors of this post, are registered dietitians and the dynamic duo behind C&J Nutrition, the popular nutrition consulting and communications company based in New York City.
Be sure to check out other great resources from Together Counts!