Melted cheese, grease and sweets typically highlight the menu for a football party. Surprise your guests this football season with healthy football snacks that please the taste buds. Portion control and the nutritional content of the food offered to your party guests work together to increase the health value of the football fare.
Miniature Snacks
Smaller versions of classic party foods help your guests control their portions. Miniature sandwiches work well for a football party. Make small hamburgers, deli-meat sandwiches or grilled chicken sandwiches for snacking. Leave out an assortment of healthy toppings such as low-fat cheese, low-fat spreads and vegetables for guests to garnish their mini sandwiches. Other bite-size snacks to try include turkey meatballs, mini pigs-in-a-blanket and mini taco cups made by placing taco toppings inside a cup-shaped tortilla chip.
Healthy Dips
Many party dips use heavy dairy products as the base, which add up to excessive fat and calories. Making your own dips allows you to increase the health value for your guests. Start with low-fat dairy products, such as sour cream, Greek yogurt or cream cheese, as the base for your dip. Add powdered salad dressing or soup mixes for flavor. For additional nutrition, add spinach or finely chopped vegetables with the dip. Offer an assortment of whole-grain bread bites, whole-grain crackers, baked pita chips and raw vegetables to accompany your game-day dip.
Munchies
Make a large bowl of air-popped popcorn as a healthier alternative to the usual chips. To make it more flavorful, sprinkle on Parmesan cheese, Italian seasoning or other dry seasonings. Mix in nuts and dried fruit to make a popcorn trail mix. A plate of nachos is a potentially healthy option depending on the ingredients used. Start with baked, whole-grain tortilla chips. Use lean ground beef or ground turkey and low-fat cheese to top the chips. Load the nachos with fresh vegetables such as onions, peppers, tomatoes, olives and avocados.
Substitutions
When creating a healthy football party menu, look for substitutions for the foods you normally serve. For example, chili filled with fiber-rich beans and low-fat ground turkey is a filling snack for party guests. Ground turkey works in any recipe that calls for ground beef and saves on the fat and calories. Look for low-fat or low-calorie versions of other ingredients in the recipes you regularly use.
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