Julie's Superbowl Approved Healthy Superfood Snacks
JulieMorris
Posted On February 3, 2012
Smart Superbowl Snacks
According to the Wall Street Journal, Super Bowl Sunday is the second biggest eating occasion of the year, just behind Thanksgiving. But just because wings, pizza, and guacamole have practically become a football rule (none of which I claim to understand), game day doesn't have to compromise your healthy goals. Try these smart snacks in place of conventional party fare and ensure that this game day, nutritionally speaking at least, everyone wins.
Guacamole Redux: Guacamole is a must, which is a good thing as avocados are full of healthy fats. Make your guacamole healthier by skipping the sour cream (avocados are exquisitely creamy without it!), and mixing in plenty of fresh, chunky salsa. You’ll end up with a guac that not only has more flavor, but is much lower in calories.
Choose Hummus over Cheese Dip: Made of protein-packed garbanzo beans and calcium rich sesame seed paste, Hummus is a shoe-in for “popular, delicious dip” that also happens to be a winner in the health department too. Instead of a cheese dip weighed down in saturated fat, serve hummus instead as a creamy, tasty, and popular party dip. You can buy it premade or whip it up from scratch in a snap.
Offer Kale Crisps: Eating a few organic, baked potato chips isn’t going to be the end of the world for anyone, but why not offer healthier chip options as well? Kale crisps – seasoned pieces of kale that are baked or dehydrated into a chip-like bite – are a revolutionary snack that makes eating greens so very munchable. They’re immensely addicting, which is a great habit to acquire as kale tops the food charts in nutrient density. While store bought options can be costly, kale crisps are easy and inexpensive to make at home; try one of my favorite kale crisp recipes.
Get Sneaky with Chili: Chili is one of those foods that’s less about the ingredients, and more about the spices… which is great news for anyone catering to a crowd that might be reducing or avoiding meat (it’s not the meat that’s responsible for the great taste). Along with your beans and seasonings, try adding in some ground tempeh (a nutritious soy protein); chopped vegetables like bell peppers and mushrooms, or even a little bit of seaweed into the stock while cooking (wakame works well). Or, use a fail-safe recipe like my Chili Con Verduras, or for anyone who likes to kick up the heat a little more, use the popular Chipotle Chili recipe from the Superfood Cuisine cookbook.
Originally Posted By:
Julie Morris on February 3, 2012
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