Prepare lighter, nutritious versions of your favorite classics to enjoy while cheering on your favorite team.
Looking for healthy snacks to nosh on while watching the Big Game? We rounded up a few recipes that are not only lighter versions of the classics, but are health-boosting in their own right, brimming with fiber, protein, and plenty of vitamins.
Baked Zucchini Fries
You can still enjoy the satisfying crunch of fries but without the extra grease and salt. These oil-free fries are baked, not fried, and feature nutrient-rich zucchini alongside a fat-free, tangy yogurt dipping sauce.
Serves 4
Ingredients
2 medium zucchini
2 eggs
1 cup grated parmesan cheese
1 cup panko bread crumbs
1 tsp garlic powder
1 tsp Italian spice
Yogurt dipping sauce:
1 cup plain non-fat Greek yogurt
3/4 tsp garlic powder
½ tsp onion powder
½ tsp dried dill
¼ tsp kosher salt
¼ tsp Worcestershire sauce
Instructions
1. Preheat the oven to 425F and line two baking trays with parchment paper.
2. Slice the zucchini in half, then half again, then into quarters. This will yield 16 fries per zucchini.
3. Crack the eggs in a small bowl and lightly beat them.
4. Add the parmesan, panko, and spices to a separate bowl or container and stir to combine.
5. Dip a slice of zucchini in the egg wash and transfer to the parmesan and panko. Use your other hand to coat the zucchini in the dry mixture and transfer to the baking tray. Repeat this process for all fries.
6. Bake for 25-30 minutes, flipping halfway through.
7. Combine all dipping sauce ingredients in a small bowl.
8. Remove fries from the oven when ready, and enjoy.
Nutrition facts (1 serving: 4 fries and sauce): 236 calories, 26 g fat, 6 g saturated fat, 15 g protein, 29 g carb, 3 g fiber, 480 mg sodium
Black Bean Corn Salsa
Filled with fiber-packed beans and colorful vegetables like avocado, corn, tomato, and -peppers, this nutritious salsa can be enjoyed as a dip with tortilla chips or on its own as a salad.
Serves 10
Ingredients
1 15 oz can black beans, drained and rinsed
2 cups frozen corn, thawed and drained
1 medium tomato, diced
1 green bell pepper, diced
1 red bell pepper, diced
1 ripe avocado, cubed
½ cup red onion, diced
1 clove garlic, minced
2 Tbsp fresh cilantro, chopped
¼ cup olive oil
¼ cup red wine vinegar
2 Tbsp fresh lime juice
Salt and pepper, to taste
Instructions
1. In a large bowl, combine beans, corn, tomatoes, bell pepper, onion, garlic, and cilantro.
2. Add olive oil, red wine vinegar, and lime juice, 1/2 teaspoon salt, and 1/4 teaspoon pepper. Stir to combine. Add more salt and pepper as needed. Top with cubed avocado.
3. Serve with baked tortilla chips.
Nutrition facts (1 serving): 90 calories, 4 g fat, 0 g saturated fat, 4 g protein, 15 g carb, 3 g fiber, 240 mg sodium
Lower-Calorie Spinach Artichoke Dip
Indulge in this game day classic without all the guilt! This dip incorporates several reduced-fat or no-fat sources of dairy protein to result in a creamy, filling dip with much less calories.
Serves 12
Ingredients
8 ounces reduced fat cream cheese, room temperature
½ cup plain non-fat Greek yogurt
½ cup reduced fat sour cream
10 oz frozen spinach, defrosted and drained
½ cup jarred artichokes, drained and chopped
¼ cup Parmesan cheese
⅓ cup part-skim shredded Mozzarella Cheese
⅓ cup feta cheese, crumbled
2 teaspoons garlic, minced
1 teaspoon lemon juice
½ teaspoon sea salt
Instructions
1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees and grease a 1-quart baking dish.
2. Place defrosted spinach in clean kitchen towel and squeeze out excess moisture over the sink.
3. In a large mixing bowl cream the cream cheese, sour cream, and yogurt together until creamy and smooth.
4. Add the spinach, artichokes, cheese, salt, lemon juice, and garlic to the cream cheese mixture and mix together until all the ingredients are combined.
5. Transfer the mixture to the greased baking dish.
6. Bake at 350 degrees for 20-25 minutes, until slightly browned on the top.
Nutrition facts (1 serving): 65 calories, 3 g fat, 1 g saturated fat, 6 g protein, 5 g carb, 3 g fiber, 220 mg sodium
Roasted Red Pepper Hummus
Hummus is comfort in a bowl, and this particular hummus, highlighting healthy garbanzo beans and roasted red peppers does not disappoint. Whip this up as a zesty, colorful alternative to your regular hummus.
Serves 12
Ingredients
1 15-ounce can garbanzo beans, rinsed and drained
1 cup jarred roasted red peppers, rinsed
½ cup jarred artichoke hearts packed in water, rinsed
¼ cup tahini
zest and juice of 1 lemon
2 tablespoons reduced-sodium tamari
1 tablespoon capers
2 cloves garlic, minced
½ teaspoon black pepper
¼ teaspoon cayenne pepper
Instructions
1. Place all ingredients into a food processor. Process until well-combined.
2. Serve with raw veggies, whole grain crackers, or baked tortilla chips.
Nutrition facts (1 serving): 130 calories, 6 g fat, 1 g saturated fat, 5 g protein, 14 g carb, 4 g fiber, 163 mg sodium
