Super Snack Switches

The only thing better than cheering on your favorite sports team is the snacks you get to eat while watching the action. Finding healthy snacks that provide nutritional value shouldn’t require you to lose out on foods you enjoy. With the help of dietitian Patricia Hertz from Adventist HealthCare Shady Grove Medical Center, we have gathered some helpful tips to make the foods you love work better for your health this championship season.

Sandwiches

Rolls: Focus on options like whole-grain or wheat bread, as opposed to traditional Italian or white bread, to get a better source of fiber and nutrients.

Meat: Avoid highly processed and salty luncheon meats by carving up a fresh turkey or rotisserie chicken.

Condiments: Mayonnaise and other condiments contain mostly unhealthy fats. Swap them for olive oil and vinegar-based dressings which are great for heart health.

Dips

Greek Yogurt: It’s a great substitute for ranch dressing or sour cream in dip. Greek yogurt can help reduce your appetite, and it’s an excellent source of nutrients!

Plant-Based: Instead of going for the queso or layer dips, filled with fatty cheese and heavy creams, try guacamole or hummus! They are packed with healthy fats, and they support stronger heart health.

Chips and Vegetables: Air-fried tortillas can offer a delicious and crunchy alternative to regular salty chips. Vegetables and fruits are also great for dipping. They have less salt and provide more vitamins.

Nachos

The Base: Use vegetables like bell peppers and lettuce instead of chips as a base. These options help reduce the amount of salt and provide a crunchy texture similar to chips.

Toppings: Chicken and ground turkey are lean alternatives to fatty ground beef. Try healthy toppers like onions, carrots, tomatoes, low-fat cheese and jalapenos instead of sour cream and full-fat cheese.

Wings

For the coating: Use an air fryer to cook chicken wings. Try a panko or corn flake coating for a lighter breading alternative.

From the garden: Roasted cauliflower can be a tasty alternative to chicken!

By utilizing small and nutritious alternatives in your recipes, you can make eating during the big game a yummy and guilt-free experience!