Family and friends, rooting for favorite and home teams, and that notorious food... It must mean one thing: It's football season! But when attending and enjoying game day outings, the food selections are more than likely heavy, fried, and pull away from all the healthful changes added into your life. However, these healthy appetizers are a flavorful and guilt-free touchdown!
10 Healthy Game Day Snacks and Appetizers
1. Jalapeno Poppers
Slice eight jalapenos vertically in half and remove the membranes and seeds. Set jalapenos aside and mix together one cup Greek yogurt, ½ cup low-fat cheddar cheese, and a dash of onion and garlic powder. Fill jalapenos with the yogurt and cheese mixture and sprinkle breadcrumbs atop, using enough to lightly coat. Bake in a 350 degree Fahrenheit oven for 25 minutes and broil at the end to offer extra crispiness.
2. Meatball Sliders
Indulge without the guilt with these healthy meatballs. For an alternative vegetarian option, try these simple vegan meatballs. To sustain their heat, keep the meatballs in the crockpot prior to serving. Serve on small dinner rolls to keep portions in check!
3. Chicken Wings
Though chicken is known to be a lean protein source, chicken wings can break those nutritious barriers. First off, they are oftentimes fried in oil, thus increasing fat content. Also, the sauces that drench the wings are often loaded with added sugar. Keep chicken as a valuable protein source with these healthier appetizer variations!
4. Greek Yogurt Dip
Though veggie trays are often noticed as a healthy game day snack, the dips and sauces they get dunked into are less to be desired. Reduce sugar and fat content with this protein-packed ranch dip! Additionally, add peanut butter and cinnamon to plain Greek yogurt and pair with sliced apples, strawberries, and bananas.
5. Wonton Tacos
Keep tacos in small portions by preparing wonton tacos. For the "shells," spray a muffin tin with nonstick spray. Place a wonton wrapper in each muffin spot and bake in a 350-degree Fahrenheit oven for about five minutes or until golden brown. Add desired protein (ground beef or turkey, shredded chicken, quinoa) and other toppings as desired (diced onions, peppers, jalapenos) into cups, lightly sprinkle with cheese (if preferred), and bake for an additional 15 minutes. Garnish with cilantro, green onions, hot sauce, or plain Greek yogurt and serve up!
6. Potato Skins
Healthify those notorious potato skins using this delicious recipe! Ingredients can be tweaked to your liking or have fun with a topping bar - plain Greek yogurt, hummus, hot sauce, salsa, roasted veggies, and any other garnishes best fit to personal preferences.
7. Mozzarella Sticks
Fried, oozy mozzarella sticks are a classic but not the most waist-friendly or nutrition-focused. For a healthy party snack, heat the oven and whip out the baking pan. This mozzarella stick recipe ditches the frying oil yet still offers that desired, crispy texture!
8. Quesadillas
This classic finger food is convenient, versatile, and portion-controlled! Get creative with toppings or prepare these quesadilla variations: black bean quesadillas, southwest with cilantro lime sour cream, or sautéed mushroom and avocado.
9. Crispy Parmesan Chickpeas
Skip out on bags of chips and enjoy crispy parmesan chickpeas. They are a guilt-free, crunchy snack loaded with fiber and healthy fat. Feel welcome to tweak seasonings to you, and your guests, liking!
10. Dessert Skewers
Cave into the sweet tooth without "deflating" your health goals! For these treats, alternate fresh strawberries and small pound cake cubes on a skewer. Drizzle the kabobs with a low-fat whipped cream to achieve the taste of strawberry shortcake. Add banana slices, pineapple chunks, and chocolate syrup for a banana split variation without melting ice cream!
