Super Bowl Sunday…football’s biggest day of the year. All over the world people will get together for football, outrageous ads and of course, fabulous food.  I want my food to be bold and aggressive…full of flavor. How about you?

What do you have planned? Whether it’s a small party or a blockbuster, everyone looks forward to the food. But do you have to walk away feeling like a football? Absolutely not!

Bold, great tasting healthy food is not an oxymoron. I checked in with some of my colleagues for their Super Bowl recipes and tips. No need to punt when you can put out a spread the defensive line would be glad to plate up and at a cost that won’t be a budget buster.

 

Here’s our game day menu:

Classic Hummus

Tortilla Mexican Soup

Buffalo Chicken Bites

Dorine’s Super-fast Chili

Super Easy Super Cheesy Super Bowl Toast

Festive Fruit Bowl
Fruity Chocolate Clusters

 

Let’s get started. While you’re putting the finishing touches on your fabulous food spread, try dietitian Sharon Palmer’s recipe for Classic Hummus and serve it with whole wheat pita triangles, a big platter of veggies and a lighter version of chips. The hummus takes the hunger edge off. Remember you can make some of these items a day ahead.

Dr. Barb, known as the Nutrition Budgeteer, has a recipe for Tortilla Mexican Soup. It’s perfect to serve in a big coffee mug. If you’re in a hurry and don’t mind the additional expense, save time by purchasing a rotisserie chicken. Put this soup out along with the hummus and you have two filling appetizers your guests can start to enjoy.

Save about one pound of your rotisserie chicken to make these Buffalo Chicken Bites. Your guests can snack all thru the game on these easy-to-eat bites.

Buffalo Chicken Bites

Source: These recipes were developed by the Unilever Chefs. 

36 skewers

Prep Time: 20 minutes     Cook Time: 8 minutes

2 Tbsp. Promise® Buttery Spread

1 lb. boneless, skinless chicken breast halves, lightly pounded 1/4-inch thick  (about 2 breasts)

2 Tbsp. cayenne pepper sauce

12 ribs celery, sliced into 2-inch pieces (36 pieces)

36 cherry tomatoes

1/2 cup Wish-Bone® Fat Free! Chunky Blue Cheese Dressing

In 12-inch nonstick skillet, melt 1/2 tablespoon Promise® Buttery Spread over medium heat and cook chicken, turning once, 8 minutes or until chicken is thoroughly cooked; cut into 3/4-inch pieces and keep warm.

In medium microwave-safe bowl, microwave remaining Spread with cayenne pepper sauce at HIGH 15 seconds or until melted; stir until blended. Add chicken; toss to coat.

On 36 wooden skewers, alternately thread celery, tomatoes and chicken. On serving platter, arrange skewers and serve with Dressing.
See nutrition information for sodium content.

Nutrition Information per serving:

Calories 90, Calories From Fat 20, Saturated Fat 0g, Trans Fat 0g, Total Fat 2g, Cholesterol 20mg, Sodium 240mg, Total Carbohydrate 7g, Sugars 2g, Dietary Fiber 2g, Protein 10g, Vitamin A 10%, Vitamin C 20%, Calcium 4%, Iron 4%

My go-to dish for Super Bowl Sunday is always a big pot of chili that stays on the stove at a lower simmer. My friend Dorine first made this chili. It was a hit and I begged for the recipe and found out that it’s super simple. I usually triple the recipe.

 

Dorine’s Chili

2 cans of reduced sodium tomato soup

2 cans of reduced sodium black beans

2 TBSP chili power

Optional: 1 pound ground turkey breast or beef or venison, chopped onions and bell peppers

First, sauté some chopped onions and green peppers in a Dutch oven or large pot (I use my pasta pot because I double or triple the recipe). Add a pound of ground turkey breast and brown (leave out if you’re vegetarian). Then add the soup, beans and chili powder. Stir and cook 10-15 minutes. Serve with grated cheese, green onions, reduced fat sour cream on top.

Need a good gluten-free recipe? Dietitian EA Stewart shared a gluten-free recipe for Super Easy Super Cheesy Super Bowl Toast. With five simple ingredients including cheese, onions, olives, tomato paste and good bread, the result looks like a cheesy square of pizza…sure to be a big hit.

 

Be sure to offer a big bowl of cut up fruit or a fruit platter for snacking.

 

What are we missing? Of course…chocolate! Prepped in the microwave, have this recipe available for your friends will ask for it.

 

 

 

Fruity Chocolate Clusters

Makes: 40 clusters

Prep: 15 minutes

Microwave: 1 minute

Chill: 15 minutes

1 1/2 cups dried cranberries

1 1/2 cups toasted slivered almonds

2 cups broken-up pretzel stick pieces

8 ounces bittersweet chocolate, chopped

 

1. Line a baking sheet with waxed paper; set aside.

2. In a medium-size bowl, stir together cranberries, almonds and pretzel pieces.

3.Place chocolate in a medium-size microwave safe bowl and microwave for 1 minute, stirring halfway through; microwave another 15 seconds if necessary and stir until smooth.

4. Stir cranberry mixture into chocolate until completely coated. Place1 heaping tablespoonful of chocolate mixture onto prepared baking sheet, shaping into a mound. Repeat with remaining mixture. Chill for 15 minutes before serving.

Per cluster 74 calories; 4 g fat (1 g sat.); 1 g protein; 9 g carbohydrate; 1 g fiber; 40 mg sodium; 0 mg cholesterol

By Family Circle© 2007 Meredith Corporation. First published in Family Circle Magazine.

 

When your selecting your beverages, registered dietitian and endurance athlete Julie Upton on her website appforhealth.com says to ‘bench the high-cal beer and beverages’. Since beer is the fourth food group of Super Bowl Sunday, Julie suggests to choose super light options if you want to enjoy a few. You can find ultra-light beers as low as 55 calories and many light beers are around 100 calories a bottle.  Save those calories for the chocolate!

For more helpful tips, I’m linking in my blog to this week’s blog by Dr. Joy Dubost, Director of Nutrition for the National Restaurant Association. I know your party is going to be great and I want to hear about it…ok?

 Want more information? Listen to this week’s podcast below.
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