Superbowl

This past Sunday my husband and I visited some friends to watch the Superbowl.
Congrats to the Saints for pulling out their first ever Superbowl win.

This festive date has always been an indulgent one where I come from. I remember the feasts at the parties we would attend when I was a little girl back in Virginia. Even now, as an adult, the parties have always been an excuse to bring out the comfort food.

This year was no exception. Upon arrival, there were two different flavors of chicken wings from a local restaurant, trays filled with Ritz (buttery goodness) crackers with cheese, pepperoni and salty olives, salsa, guacamole, and more bags of chips than you might find in a grocery aisle. Top it off with a gourmet style cake from an up and coming baker, and you've got a perfect menu for overeating and empty calories.

I'm just as weak as everyone else when put in these situations and like many, I want to try a taste of everything, so I did. Including the shrimp coctail that got brought out after I had had two full plates of everything else and a piece of cake...

I began to wonder if this movement is possible. How do I get people interested in revamping thier thinking about holidays, especially superbowl sunday?

I am beginning to think that the first step is offering healthier versions to old standards, such as 7-layer dip, and guacamole.

Here are a few that I found.

Southwestern Layered Bean Dip (from eatingwell.com)

Ingredients

1 16-ounce can nonfat refried beans, preferably “spicy”

1 15-ounce can black beans, rinsed

4 scallions, sliced

1/2 cup prepared salsa

1/2 teaspoon ground cumin

1/2 teaspoon chili powder

1/4 cup pickled jalapeño slices, chopped

1 cup shredded Monterey Jack, or Cheddar cheese

1/2 cup reduced-fat sour cream

1 1/2 cups chopped romaine lettuce

1 medium tomato, chopped

1 medium avocado, chopped

1/4 cup canned sliced black olives, (optional)

Preparation

1.Combine refried beans, black beans, scallions, salsa, cumin, chili powder and jalapeños in a medium bowl. Transfer to a shallow 2-quart microwave-safe dish; sprinkle with cheese.

2.Microwave on High until the cheese is melted and the beans are hot, 3 to 5 minutes.

3.Spread sour cream evenly over the hot bean mixture, then scatter with lettuce, tomato, avocado and olives (if using).

Tips & Notes

Make Ahead Tip: Prepare through Step 1, cover and refrigerate for up to 1 day. To serve, continue with Steps 2 & 3.

Nutrition

Per serving: 146 calories; 7 g fat (3 g sat, 3 g mono); 12 mg cholesterol; 15 g carbohydrates; 7 g protein; 5 g fiber; 288 mg sodium; 164 mg potassium.

Guacamole with Chipotle Tortilla Chips (from myrecipes.com)

Ingredients

Chips:

8 (6-inch) corn tortillas

Cooking spray

1/2 teaspoon salt

1/2 teaspoon chipotle chile powder (such as McCormick)

Guacamole:

3 tomatillos

1/3 cup chopped onion

1/3 cup chopped plum tomato

3 tablespoons chopped fresh cilantro

1 tablespoon fresh lime juice

3/4 teaspoon salt

2 ripe peeled avocados, seeded and coarsely mashed

2 jalapeño peppers, seeded and finely chopped

1 garlic clove, minced

 

Preparation

Preheat oven to 375°.

To prepare chips, cut each tortilla into 8 wedges; arrange tortilla wedges in a single layer on 2 baking sheets coated with cooking spray. Sprinkle wedges with 1/2 teaspoon salt and chile powder; lightly coat wedges with cooking spray. Bake at 375° for 12 minutes or until wedges are crisp and lightly browned. Cool 10 minutes.

To prepare guacamole, peel papery husk from tomatillos; wash, core, and finely chop. Combine tomatillos, onion, and remaining ingredients; stir well. Serve guacamole with chips.

Nutritional Information

Calories: 57 (41% from fat)

Fat: 2.6g (sat 0.4g,mono 1.5g,poly 0.5g)

Protein: 1.2g

Carbohydrate: 8.3g

Fiber: 1.7g

Cholesterol: 0.0mg

Iron: 0.4mg

Sodium: 207mg

Calcium: 27mg

You can find more healthy versions of your favorite superbowl treats by visiting the links on the side of the page.