Super Bowl Foods: Healthy Snack Swaps For Game Day

By Jennipher Walters for Shape.com

Gearing up for the Super Bowl? Us, too! While Super Bowl parties are a blast, they can be a bit of a minefield when it comes to healthy eating. Wings, cheesy dips, nachos, pizza...the list of not-so-great for you foods goes on and on. Not to mention that you'll probably spend three or more hours sitting on the couch.

But your Super Bowl party doesn't have to be unhealthy. In fact, there are some easy swaps you can make for your favorite Super Bowl snacks that make them a little bit better for you and your guests' waistlines. And the best part? These Super Bowl snacks are so tasty that no one will probably miss the fatty and greasy fare!

Comments

[RealityMyFriend]

03:56 AM on 02/06/2012

2 beers a day!?!?

[Klytemnestra]

12:25 PM on 02/05/2012

The Super Bowl (like Thanksgiving, Christmas, and birthdays) is one of those days when I like to splurge a little. Family, friends, good food... happy times!

[Dovescorner]

01:12 PM on 02/05/2012

And the one day we escape politics!

[inkongirl]

12:05 PM on 02/05/2012

I made kale chips last night and no one would eat them.

[RealityMyFriend]

03:56 AM on 02/06/2012

Are they any good?

[inkongirl]

01:43 PM on 02/06/2012

strange at first, but pretty good.

[Danish5666]

11:16 AM on 02/05/2012

Why snack at all? Why this constant propensity to use food counter to what it is supposed to do, namely keeping you body supplied with nourishment to be able to function.

[wazza]

11:50 AM on 02/05/2012

Read your own micro-bio! Food doesn't have to merely sustain you, you're allowed to enjoy it sometimes, too.

[garystartswithg]

10:47 AM on 02/05/2012

all guac is not the same -- guac with sour cream ups the calories a zillion %. ever had guac with just enough avocado to make it green tinted sour cream? Ick.

[Agathon]

10:15 AM on 02/05/2012

Using a large cast iron pan, put the wings in and sprinkle them with kosher salt and granulated garlic. The kosher salt will help create something of a crusty crispy coat.

The wings will shrink, or "firm up" as they roast, but still don't pack them too tightly together. If you are going for the "extra-crispy", then just cover the bottom of the pan; don't pile wings on top of one another unless you rotate them with some regularity and don't care whether they get crispy.

Crank the oven up to 450 degrees and put the wings on a rack about 6" from the top heating element.

After about 1/2 hour drain off any grease in the pan. At this point I'll turn them over and, with the broth drained off, the pan hot, and the wings turned, it seems that cooking really accellerates from this point forward.

When, after about another 15 to 20 minutes, they are turning a nice golden brown with that crisp becomming apparent, they are either done or ready for one last flip and bake. Don't over do it because in your quest for crisp you can ruin the meat inside and it will seem mushy.

For saucing, I put enough Frank's Red Hot in a bowl for my serving, add a generous spoonful of minced garlic in water, add the wings and toss them around until covered in sauce, and finally squeeze some fresh lemon on top. Blue cheese and celery optional.

[PJ Parker]

08:37 AM on 02/05/2012

Stick to the basics, plenty of beer and wings. Make sure you eat enough that you don't want dessert or breakfast tomorrow. You'll be fine!

[PJ Parker]

08:33 AM on 02/05/2012

Yeah, there's that one day to pig out, Superbowl Sunday.

Oh, followed by Valentine's Day chocolates, then Easter ham and eggs and candy. Oh, then there's Cinco de Mayo and summer vacation Martguerita's and Coconut Shrimp. All that summer heat and sweat reminds me I need to lose some weight. Fortunately, fall is right around the corner with comfort foods and Halloween treats, Thanksgiving feasts and Christmas!

Yeah, one day won't hurt. Pass the hummus.

[LHoney]

10:31 AM on 02/05/2012

I'm surprised that hummus wasn't one of the options to replace the creamy dips!

[Sinestro Jones]

07:35 AM on 02/05/2012

Food police brutality. Eat what you want. It's one day. Enjoy. Go Giants.

[kevinbr38]

07:18 AM on 02/05/2012

All those things look and sound tasty enough, and are healthier alternatives and all that, but can't we just pig out on Super Bowl Sunday? There are 364 other days in the year :).

[trish333]

03:40 AM on 02/05/2012

Apparently, the food police never sleep.

[local21]

08:16 AM on 02/05/2012

this is the Healthy Living section

[Danish5666]

11:20 AM on 02/05/2012

Yep, people like eating garbage.

[Sonny4gov]

02:51 AM on 02/05/2012

I love these articles talking about healthy food that includes meat.

Meat is bad for you. Point blank.

If you care about health, eat a plant-based diet.

Otherwise, don't even use the term "healthy" and "meat" in the same sentence.

[Danish5666]

11:25 AM on 02/05/2012

They Inuits of old was much healthier that modern man, no cardiovascular problems and their diet was wholly meat. Not to mention that people seemed to do very well before the advent of agriculture. Your contention that a wholly plant based diet is healthy fall flat on it's face.

[I-US]

04:51 PM on 02/05/2012

A discovery of ancient Inuit mummies confirmed the presence of heart disease and osteoporosis.

[jsgaetano]

01:40 AM on 02/05/2012

Using greek yogurt for dips is huge. It's funny, because you'll never taste the difference either.

[GaryNOVA]

01:33 AM on 02/05/2012

healthy superbowl snack foods?? pshhhhhhhhhhhhhhh.

[suburban lawnjockey]

01:22 AM on 02/05/2012

Edamame beans and Japanese beer. Yeah buddy.