Superbowl 2020: Snack Recipe Pull
Written By: Heather Gerrish, MS, RDN
Another year, another SUPERBOWL! Which commonly is associated with some very savory snacks - so what can we do to continue new promises to lead a healthy, balanced lifestyle this year (and beyond!)? Spending time with family and friends is special and can fill your cup outside of healthy eating and exercise, but long term success is the integration of these factors into one. Long term we want to think about ways to integrate our healthy routine and enjoy the foods we love for not just this Super Bowl but for many celebrations to come!
Super Snack Game Plan:
Have a “Game Plan”. Bring your own dish! (I’ve said this before, but really - this can be a lifesaver if you don’t know what is going to be served or you are unsure of if you will be able to make a healthy choice during game time).
“Tackle” Those Veggies. Most often, parties involving sports have *some* sort of vegetable or fruit tray. Maximize your efforts here. You can focus on filling up on fruits and vegetables so you’re not scouring for croissant-wrapped hot dogs come halftime.
“Quarter-Back-On-Up” from Alcohol. Not to say that enjoying a drink or two is not completely acceptable on occasion, long games can lead to more than anticipated enjoyment of beer and other empty-calorie drinks. Stick to water if possible, or if you would like to enjoy a drink or two - pace with water.
Now that you have your playbook in hand, here are some helpful snacks to take with you this Super Bowl and beyond! These are recipes from all over that will help to spark ideas and inspire you to make some healthy swaps or try something new this Super Bowl!
To start off with some great inspiration is none other than our very own Recipe Booklet. Specifically, the foundation of incorporating delicious recipes with an additional focus on balanced nutrition (and you can’t forget flavor!). This is always at your disposal - so make sure to use it to your advantage! From snack to main dish ideas, many of these core items could be included in any Super Bowl party and you can feel confident that you are bringing something balanced and tasty to share!
Of course, sometimes you might need something more specific and that calls for a recipe roundup. These recipes have been modified slightly from some classic favorites and many include easy changes to ensure that they follow any specific dietary preferences you or your guests might have.
Low Carb Turkey Pesto Roll-Ups (Ambitious Kitchen)
What’s to Love: an alternative for traditional “turkey roll-ups” that provide a filling taste of pesto and protein punch with turkey but wrapped in the satisfaction of a low carb alternative to the traditional tortilla. Try this out as a good appetizer or quick bite to curb cravings
Chipotle Chicken Sweet Potato Skins (Half-baked Harvest)
What’s to Love: a twist on the traditional recipe with using sweet potatoes that add in an additional kick of Vitamin A and fiber and not to mention heat with the added chipotle flavor.
Cauliflower Pizza Bites (Wicked Spatula)
What’s to Love: You won’t leave feeling dissatisfied with these bites because you get an added dose of fiber and you can have a relatively hearty serving of these little bites and still have room to indulge in other goodies!
Perfectly Portioned Nachos (Martha Stewart Blog)
What’s to Love: Very basic here, but the idea is to pre-portion snacks to limit the tendency to mindlessly eat while watching the game - no mindless munching here! Your nacho serving is individualized and a perfect companion to watch the game.
Strawberry Fruitballs (HeartHavenHome)
What’s to Love: First of all, these are adorable. You also get the added benefit of having a little treat with a sneaky serving of fiber and an added serving of fruit!
Caesar Salad Spears (Food and Wine)
What’s to Love: These may or may not be suitable for a hand-held snack, but nonetheless these could be a great crowd pleaser without being a traditional “salad” and it makes incorporating veggies a little more fun!
Green Beans in a Blanket (Food Network)
What’s to Love: If you are skipping the animal protein this year or prefer to add in more vegetables to your Super Bowl fun, this a perfect way to do it! Adding in vegetables in unexpected ways can be fun and a way to meld your prior favorites with your new healthy lifestyle.
Remember, this is one day and in the grand scheme of health and happiness, if you choose to partake in more festivities than you anticipated, that is OK. You have the rest of your life to implement a healthy routine and one day will not derail you to fall back into old habits and patterns BUT it is important to practice balance and find ways to bring your healthy habits and integrate them into your life - long term - and not just for “right now”. You are doing some important stuff! Don’t let one day get you down. You got this!
References:
“Low Carb Pesto & Turkey Cucumber Roll Ups.” Ambitious Kitchen, 27 July 2015, www.ambitiouskitchen.com/low-carb-pesto-turkey-cucumber-roll-ups/.
Halfbakedharvest. “Healthy Chipotle Chicken Sweet Potato Skins.” Half Baked Harvest, 12 July 2018, www.halfbakedharvest.com/healthy-chipotle-chicken-sweet-potato-skins/.
Maya. “Cauliflower Pizza Bites.” You Are Being Redirected..., 11 Apr. 2018, www.wickedspatula.com/cauliflower-pizza-bites/.
“Individual Nachos.” Martha Stewart, Martha Stewart, 16 May 2017, www.marthastewart.com/960745/individual-nachos.
Hearthavenhome. “Super Easy Super Bowl Treat.” HeartHavenHome, 2 Feb. 2015, hearthavenhome.wordpress.com/2015/01/30/super-easy-super-bowl-treat/.
“Caesar Salad Spears.” Food & Wine, www.foodandwine.com/recipes/caesar-salad-spears.
Food Network Kitchen. “Green Beans in a Blanket.” Food Network, Food Network, 4 Mar. 2016, www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/food-network-kitchen/green-beans-in-a-blanket-3363684.