Stay healthy while rooting for your team during the Super Bowl

Love is not the only thing in the air this February. Across the nation, football fans are stocking up on potato chips, hot wings, pizza and burgers in preparation for the crème de la crème of the NFL. To avoid fumbling your New Year’s resolution, here are some healthy alternatives.

Get your pre-game party started with protein-rich hummus and whole wheat pita bread. You can find hummus in a variety of flavors in stores. From supremely spicy to roasted pine nut, there is a flavor to satisfy any pigskin lover’s taste buds. In addition, you can use hummus as an alternative dip for traditional veggies like carrots and cucumbers. Feel free to add some ranch on the side as a second dip option.

If you are in the mood for something a bit more refreshing, create your own fruit kebab with strawberries, apples, bananas and other favorite fruits for a snack that’s sure to tackle your sweet tooth. Prepare a few bowls of vanilla yogurt, walnuts and pecans on the side for your guests to dress up their skewers with an extra crunch.

Speaking of crunch, substitute your salt craving for chips with pretzels low in sodium and freshly popped popcorn. Not only does a serving of Rold Gold Classic pretzel sticks have 60 calories less than a serving of Lay’s sour cream and onion chips, but  it also contains no fat (the chips have 10 grams of fat without the dip). Also, instead of popping a greasy bag from your nearest Publix, try cultivating your own kernels using a pot, vegetable oil and a bag of fresh popcorn seeds. Sprinkle it with salt and you have a crunchy treat that is low in calories.

Keep the ball going with flatbread pizzas! Flat Out wraps, which you can find at your nearest Publix, come in a variety of different flavors and all at just 100 calories. The large size of a Flat Out wrap makes a perfect foundation for a pizza low in calories! Grease a flat cooking sheet with a drop of extra virgin olive oil. Using the wrap as the dough, spread on a thin layer of crushed tomatoes and drizzle on a bit of extra virgin olive oil for flavor.

If the layer of crushed tomatoes is too thick, the pizza will come out soggy. Next, add on cilantro, mushrooms, green peppers or any of your other favorite vegetable toppings. Finish it off with a sprinkle of Italian seasoning, a dash of salt and pepper and a sprinkle of garlic powder for an Italian touch. Place in the oven on 350 degrees for about eight minutes, then add on your low-fat mozzarella and place it back in the oven for two more minutes. This prevents the cheese from melting into the sauce. When the timer rings, allow your pizza to cool and serve at halftime.

For a delicious white cheese pizza, fire up the grill and purchase a bag of dough from your grocery store. First, stretch out your dough and lay it out on the grill for about 3 minutes on each side or until you see grill marks. After you take the dough off of the grill, top it with plum tomatoes, low-fat mozzarella, your favorite vegetables and sprinkle on salt, pepper and Italian seasoning. Place the pizza back on the grill and let the toppings melt for about a minute before serving.

Celebrate the victory of your team with baked cinnamon sugar apples! Slice up two to three apples in a bowl and sprinkle on some sugar and cinnamon. Combine the mixture with a cube of butter and microwave on low for two minutes.

Savor sweet victory with fruit and yogurt parfaits. Alternate layers of Dannon’s all-natural vanilla yogurt with strawberries and blueberries. Finish it off with a sprinkle of granola for a sweet and crunchy topping. Serve them in eight ounce cups.
Whether your team wins or loses this Superbowl Sunday, it’s you that will be scoring the winning touchdown with the help of these healthy snacks.