Win Over Your Foodie Fans This Super Bowl With These Healthy Tips

Are you planning or attending a Super Bowl watch party this year? Either way, you're most likely preparing a smorgasbord of appetizers and dips for your friends and loved ones to enjoy. Perhaps you don't even watch the game or care who wins, and you're only donning a jersey to indulge in those delicious snacks.

Experts estimate that the Super Bowl is the second biggest food consumption day of the year in the U.S. behind only Thanksgiving. However, that food isn't always the most nutritious. Here are some tips and recipes to lighten up your Super Bowl spreads.

• Switch Up The Dips: Most Super Bowl parties will come with an assortment of dips, from tangy to beany to spicy. However, these can be packed with salt and other ingredients that may not be healthy in large amounts. Avocados can used to make guacamole, a delicious dip, and they are packed with healthy fats. If you're doing bean dip, The American Heart Association suggests looking for chickpeas or northern beans with reduced sodium or no salt added.
• Swap Veggies for Chips: Similar to the dip tip, try to avoid eating too many chips because they tend to be high in sodium, which can raise your blood pressure and impact your heart. Instead of chips, you could try using vegetables as your dipping vehicle, which are also rich in nutrients like fiber and potassium.
• Shake Up or Sub Your Chicken Wings: A staple of any sports-related spread is the chicken wing. Typically fried and smothered in buffalo sauce, a healthier version of this dish exists without sacrificing any flavor. First, you can swap the meat for cauliflower, which automatically lowers the calories, saturated fat and cholesterol. Second, instead of frying your wings in oil, you can bake them, which lowers the calorie and fat content because you don't need the added oils involved in frying.
• Keep An Eye on Your Alcohol Consumption: Sometimes a party can encourage us to go above our limits when it comes to drinking. However, keeping your alcohol consumption to a minimum and staying hydrated is important even when the game is on the line. It's also important to note the long-term effects alcohol has on your body, including your liver. Not only can alcohol impair your judgement, but alcoholic drinks are also very high in calories.

Recipe Ideas

• Try these Sriracha-Buffalo Cauliflower Bites for a healthy twist on your buffalo-style gameday dish. Plus, this recipe only takes 30 minutes.
• Looking for something warm and yummy to serve? This Rosemary White Bean Hummus is a simple yet rich dip.
• Another way to enjoy the heart healthy avocadoes is to use them for pudding. Our Avocado Pudding recipe is sure to surprise and delight your gameday guests.