Healthy Suggestions For Super Bowl Temptations

Despite the fact that my hometown team, the Baltimore Ravens, was eliminated early on from the playoffs, I will be enjoying the Super Bowl festivities next weekend. Although I have written about the nutrition pitfalls of the holiday season, how to eat healthy on vacation, and the challenges of good nutrition while at Fourth of July cookouts, I had never before thought about the diet dilemmas that occur during Super Bowl parties.

Super Bowl parties are great places to find your favorite dips and delicacies. But if you consider the typical party menu, you quickly realize that diet disaster is near.

Instead of indulging in the same old chili, fried chicken wings, meatballs, and subs, try incorporating the following suggestions to cut the fat and calories from your festive nibbling:

• Replace your traditional beef chili recipe with a lower-fat turkey or three-bean version. Use low-fat cheese and reduced-fat sour cream as toppings to round out the dishes.

• Make dips with reduced-fat cream cheese and sour cream, and offer whole-wheat crackers, fresh veggies, or vegetable chips as dipping alternatives.

• For meatballs, substitute turkey and use a tomato-based sauce to cut calories and fat.

• Consider baked versions of fried favorites-how about baked chicken fingers with some low-fat dips?

• For those who want sandwiches, offer a platter of lower-fat meats and cheeses, and consider some less familiar options such as soy cheese or grilled vegetables.

• Besides cream-based potato salad and coleslaw, offer a fresh fruit salad instead. It will increase fiber as well as cut calories and fat.

Have a great Super Bowl party. No matter which team wins, I wish you great success in steering clear of the usual fat-laden fare.