5 Healthy Swaps for Super Bowl Snacks
The Super Bowl brings more than 110 million people in America together
to watch a football game. Some are watching to cheer on a team; some are
there for the company; and let’s be honest, most are just hoping
Beyoncé is the halftime performer again. But everyone can agree
on this – the snacks are the best part of the Super Bowl.
Super Bowl snacks are usually cheesy, buttery and heavy on the desserts.
Not exactly the February spread you need if you’re tackling some
healthy New Year’s resolutions. No worries—we put together
a list of five healthy Super Bowl snacks that aren’t lacking in
flavor. So even if you’re only there for the food, you won’t
leave disappointed.
Skinny Buffalo Wings
Perhaps the most classic Super Bowl snack of them all, wings are always
a menu favorite. Typically fried and loaded with butter, wings aren’t
always the healthiest snack option. These skinny Buffalo wings are broiled
to reduce the fat content, and the spice can be adjusted to your heat
preference.
What you’ll need:
- 3 lbs. of chicken wings (about 18 wings)
- 1/2 cup + 2 tbsp. of Frank’s hot sauce
- 1/4 cup of white vinegar
- 2 tbsp. oregano
- 4 tsp. paprika
- 1 tbsp. garlic powder
- 1 tbsp. chili powder
- Salt and pepper for taste
Instructions:
- Combine chicken wings, 2 tbsp. hot sauce, vinegar, oregano, paprika, garlic
powder, chili powder, salt and pepper in a bowl.
- Mix and let marinate for 30 minutes.
- Preheat broiler to low. Broil marinated wings on a boiler rack for 10–12
minutes. Flip wings and broil for another 10–12 minutes. Oven temperatures
can vary, so watch the wings carefully avoid burning.
- Heat remainder of hot sauce and toss wings in sauce when cooked.
- Serve with celery sticks, carrot sticks and blue cheese dressing if you like.
Portion-Perfect Nachos
You can’t go wrong with crunchy, cheese nachos—until you’re
reached the bottom of the nachos and you’re left with plain chips.
This individual nacho recipe makes sure you won’t have to play defense
around the snack table to get nachos with toppings on them. And the best
part of this recipe is you can customize every serving for each person—so
add ingredients as desired. It’s also portion-controlled so you
won’t regret eating the entire plate of nachos.
What you’ll need:
- Tortilla chips
- Black beans
- Salsa
- Jalapenos
- Shredded cheese
- Sour Cream
Instructions:
- Preheat oven to 350°F.
- Add individual piles of chips to a baking sheet, depending on how many
people you’re serving.
- Top with desired ingredients and quantities.
- Bake for 6 minutes or until cheese is melted.
- Serve with sour cream and enjoy.
Garden-Fresh Salsa
Dips are a no-brainer for your Super Bowl spread. They’re easy to
make and easy to eat—and this version has the added health benefit
of fresh veggies mixed in. The main ingredient in this garden salsa is
store-bought salsa, so your only job is to add fresh ingredients that
fancy it up a little, making it a major score for the home team.
What you’ll need:
- 1cup store-bought refrigerated salsa
- 1 Kirby cucumber, cut into ¼-inch pieces
- 3 radishes, halved and thinly sliced
Instructions:
- Combine ingredients in a bowl and enjoy with chips or crunchy vegetables.
Lighter Quesadillas
A snack approved by everyone in the family is quesadillas. Add apples and
Brie and you’ll be tackling each other for the last piece. Trade
the typical bacon and cheddar for a creamy and crispy snack that will
carry you all the way through the fourth quarter.
What you’ll need:
- 1 tbsp. Dijon mustard
- 2 tsp. apple cider
- 3 (10-inch) flour tortillas
- 6 oz. Brie cheese (cut into ¼-inch thick slices)
- 1 apple, cored and cut into ¼-inch thick slices
- 3 cups of arugula
- Ground black pepper, to taste
Instructions:
- Whisk mustard and apple cider ina bowl.
- Heat skillet over medium heat. Spread mustard mixture over tortilla and
place in hot skillet, plain side down. Add 1/3 of the Brie, followed by
1/3 of the apples and arugula once the cheese begins to melt. Sprinkle
with pepper.
- Fold the tortilla in half and cook for 2 minutes on each side, or until
golden brown.
- Cut into wedges.
- Repeat with remaining 2 tortillas and enjoy.
Sweet Potato Chips
There’s always that one person whose sole contribution to the Super
Bowl snack table is a bag of chips. And as much of a cheat as that may
seem, no one is ever mad about it because everyone loves chips. Our recommendation?
Take it to the next level and make your own chips. This baked sweet potato
chip recipe is easy, light and sure to make you look like the real MVP.
What you’ll need:
- 1 peeled and very thinly sliced sweet potato
- 1 tbsp. extra-virgin olive oil
- Cumin
- Paprika
- Coarse salt
Instructions:
- Heat oven to 400°F.
- Toss sweet potatoes in olive oil, cumin, paprika and salt.
- Arrange on baking sheet in a single layer and bake for 20 minutes, flipping
halfway through, or until crispy.
There you have it: five easy, delicious recipes that prove choosing the
healthy option doesn’t always have to be boring. So whether your
team is up or not, the snack table will always be on the winning side.