- Why do we eat so many unhealthy foods when we watch sports? Because we view watching sports as party time, we tend to unwind and want finger foods comfort that we can eat easily while calming the nerves if our team is stressing us out.
- What is the body craving that leads us toward them? When our body stresses out (even if it is not true negative stress and simply fun anxiety about our favorite team winning) we release adrenaline and cortisol, resulting in mild fluctuations in hormone levels leaving us looking for comfort foods like fatty, starchy and sugary snacks.
- How can we reverse that trend? Is there a way to direct us toward healthier alternatives? We can reverse the trend by modifying the normal foods. We can still have Buffalo wings but instead of frying them, we should grill them. We can still have dip, but instead of serving it with chips we can use crunchy vegetables. Instead of having cheese fries we can make homemade potato skins.
- What are healthiest Super Bowl treats? What’s easy to prepare at home? Try to stay hydrated with plain water leading up to and during the game, if you are going to have alcohol have a cup of water inbetween drinks, to avoid over eating. Make sure you have fruit and vegetable options available even if you are the only one grabbing them. For more details See #4
- Do you have a recipe to share with our readers?
Fire Roasted Tomato and Olive Bruschetta
- Recipe modified and picture from our friends at www.bettycrocker.com
This is a light but satisfying appetizer perfect for the pregame show.
Prep Time?20?MIN
Total Time?20?MIN
Servings?24
Ingredients
1 can (14.5 oz) organic fire roasted diced tomatoes, drained
¼ cup pitted kalamata olives, quartered
¼ cup coarsely chopped drained roasted red bell peppers (from a jar or roasted in oven)
2 tablespoons chopped fresh basil leaves
1-tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil
½ cup soft goat cheese (4 oz)
24 slices (1/2 inch thick) wheat baguette (about 8 oz), toasted
1-2 tbsp. balsamic vinegar
Directions
In medium bowl, mix tomatoes, olives, roasted peppers, basil and oil.
Spread goat cheese onto toasted baguette slices. Top with tomato mixture. Drizzle with balsamic. Serve immediately.
Chocolate Covered Strawberries
A preservative free dessert that is portioned controlled.
* Photo credit www.foodnetwork.com
Prep & Cook 15 min.
Serves 6-10 people
Ingredients
1 container fresh strawberries washed
1 c dark chocolate chips
1 tbsp. coconut oil
Directions:
Line cookie sheet with parchment paper
Heat chocolate chips and coconut oil in double boiler or microwave till melted approximately 60 seconds. (Be careful not to burn)
Dip berries into chocolate and lay on lined tray and refrigerate for 30-60 minutes till chocolate hardens.
Black Bean Tomato Chili
A high fiber and protein main course.
*photo credit www.eatingwell.com
1 pound lean ground beef or turkey meat
1 whole chopped onion
3 Tbs. chili powder
3 Tbs. cumin
3 Tbs. paprika
1 tsp. garlic powder
3 28 oz cans diced tomatoes
1 28 oz can black beans rinsed and drained
- Heat 1 Tbs oil in large pot over medium heat.
- Add onion, chili powder, and cumin powder
- Stir occasionally so onion doesn’t burn
- Add one-pound ground lean meat and cook until no longer pink
- Add tomatoes and beans
- Stir and continue to heat for approximately 1-hour
- Add additional seasoning if desired
Football Field Guacamole Dip
Adapted from our friends at Hamilton Beach ®
Having a football themed appetizer for your Super Bowl party is a must! This appetizer is not only a conversation piece but it is actually a healthy treat, rich in both heart healthy omega 3 fatty acids from the homemade guacamole, and antioxidants from the vegetables. Serve this dip alongside fresh cut vegetables like cucumbers, bell peppers, and/or carrots in addition to traditional corn chips.
Difficulty- medium
For a small crowd cut recipe in half
Ingredients-
1 jar or container of your favorite cheese dip
1 container of your favorite salsa
10 small pretzel sticks
10 green olives
10 black olives
20 baby carrots
¼ c mustard
1/3 c sour cream
1 miniature sausage
1 Tbsp. chocolate chips
For homemade guacamole…
5 ripe avocados
2 jalapeno- seeded and chopped
½ red onion chopped
½ c chopped fresh cilantro
2 tsp. garlic
Juice of 1 lime
Dash of sea salt to taste
Directions
- To make it, use aluminum foil or parchment paper to create three sections in a large 9×13 rectangular serving dish. Fill the center with guacamole (see recipe) and the ends with salsa and cheese dip, creating the outline for a field and two end zones. Then, fill a piping bag, (or simply fill a plastic sandwich bag and snip the corner off and use as a piping bag) with sour cream to create the lines on the field. Don’t forget to make a line where the field and the end zones meet.
- To make the football, use a miniature sausage and lines and laces were drawn on with sour cream. * Bonus tip place leftover sausages in small crock-pot with your favorite barbeque sauce and salsa 3:1 ratio for another appetizer option.
- To make the football players, you need olives (green and black) and baby carrots. Use a small knife to trim the olives into the shape of a helmet and gently press them onto the end of a baby carrot until they are secure. Optional: use a piping bag (or homemade version) of mustard to draw a face mask onto each carrot. When you have the teams assembled, you can start placing them on the field.
- The goalposts are made with pretzel sticks. White or dark chocolate is the perfect edible glue to hold them together; just melt a few morsels in the microwave until they begin to soften. Let the goalposts dry for about ten minutes on wax paper, then add them to the field.
- For guacamole- place peeled and seeded avocados, chopped red onion, jalapeno (remove seeds if you do not like too spicy), cilantro, garlic and lime juice in food processor and blend till smooth, it’s okay to be a little chunky texture.
- And there you have it! Your very own delicious mini football game for your party.
6. Any other tips for having a healthy Super Bowl viewing experience?
Step away from the food area, if you are socializing near the “spread” you will mindlessly pick on the foods. Make a plate and walk away!
