If you plan to attend a party that will be a tummy-buster on Super Bowl Sunday but don’t want to cut back off your plate, you can make an audible sound with these waist-friendly alternatives.
New York-based-Jaclyn London, a registered dietician, and head of the department of nutrition and wellness at WW, recently shared her thoughts with Fox News Digital about her favorite lighter game-day recipes guaranteed to be successful on Sunday.
“Foods served during the big game tend to be made from saturated fat-filled ingredients, which can rack up quickly: lots of breading and frying; heavy cream; red and processed meats; cheese,” and much more, she explained.
Jaclyn London is a registered dietitian who is WW’s wellness and nutrition director. London shared with us her top lighter options for game day. (iStock)
“While these foods are delicious, it is a long game — and the parties are even longer — meaning there’s plenty of time to graze on snacks that are less than satisfying.”
Swapping heavy food items for fresher, healthier choices with no sacrifice in flavor is pretty simple, London said.
“Small modifications to the menu can go a long way in making the foods healthier without sacrificing taste,” according to the expert.
- Dip
- Nachos
- Popcorn
Dip
“If there’s one thing any Super Bowl party is known for, it’s dip: Bleu cheese, queso, beans, sour cream — you name it,” said London.
A recent study across the nation of Google searches revealed the term “dip” was the most frequent football-related search across 20 states.
One nutritionist suggested that instead of creamy and dairy-rich dips, begin with a salsa-based base. (iStock)
Instead of dairy-rich or rich dips, London advised making salsa as the base ingredient since it typically contains tomatoes as the first ingredient.
“Bonus: Tomatoes are packed with antioxidants vitamin C, vitamin A and lycopene, which are important for general immune health,” she stated.
You can try a black bean dip or hummus if you want a more creamy option. Both are packed with protein, healthy fats, and fiber.
Try substituting cheese-based or sour cream recipes for low-fat or basic Greek yogurt. You can add flavor by being inventive with fresh herbs or seasoning like “Everything Bagel” seasoning or adobo spice to add flavor and eat more cautiously.
A plate of crudites to dip in instead of chips will also help you save energy while playing the Super Bowl game.
Nachos
To increase the flavor and cut calories, Add fresh tomato, chopped scallions, and scallions. Jalapeno peppers and cilantro. (iStock)
Instead of the chip-and-cheese calories explosion, London advised front-loading with the fiber-rich pinto beans and blue corn and skim cheese tortilla chips, which contain higher levels of protein and fiber than the other choices.
Mix in fresh tomatoes, chopped scallions, jalapeno pepper, and cilantro for maximum flavor.
Popcorn
“Higher fiber, a little more protein and often less sodium (you can DIY the flavors yourself)” -among the advantages of this swap for snacks, London said, compared with other less nutritious snacks such as salty potato chips or French fries.
“Treat yourself to about four cups of air-popped deliciousness — the volume will help you feel like you’re eating a ton,” she said.
You can also spice up your (sometimes monotonous) snack option using sea salt, garlic powder, onion powder, and chili powder.