Three of Your Favorite Football Snacks Made Healthy

By Abbe Klemme, RD LD

Football season is the perfect time to throw the ultimate game-watching party. And, no matter which team you’re rooting for this season, these low-calorie snacks will definitely be big winners.

Buffalo Wings

Wings and football go hand, but unfortunately, fried Buffalo wings are about 100 calories each. Yikes! Instead, prepare the wings with this method, for only half the calories.

4 pounds skinless chicken wings

1 tablespoon canola oil

¼ cup lemon juice

¼ cup cider vinegar

3 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce

2 to 5 ounces hot pepper sauce (to taste)

2 tablespoons honey

Coat the inside of slow cooker with cooking spray. Rinse and pat the wings dry. Heat oil in skillet over medium-high heat. Brown wings, 3 to 5 minutes per side. Transfer to slow cooker. Combine remaining ingredients in small bowl. Pour over the wings, stir to coat. Set cooker on HIGH for 3 to 4 hours. Stir half-way through. Serve with low-fat blue cheese dip and celery sticks.

Jalapeño Poppers

Healthy tip: Breaded and fried jalapeno poppers can have up to 100 calories and 10 grams of fat a piece. Try this recipe instead:

8 ounces Neufchatel cheese (reduced-fat cream cheese)

½ pound cooked turkey breakfast sausage

4 jalapenos, diced (optional)

10 jalapenos, sliced vertically in half.

Panko bread crumbs (optional)

Mix the Neufchatel, cooked turkey sausage, diced jalapenos. Fill each of the sliced jalapenos with the mixture. Sprinkle with Panko bread crumbs if you want more crunch. Bake at 350° for 10 minutes. These lighter poppers will save you about half the calories and fat of traditional ones, plus you’ll get a little more protein.

Dips

Dips of any kind are always a fan favorite. By simply trading your base ingredient with a lower fat version, you can save yourself a lot of calories. Swap cream cheese for Neufchatel cheese. Swap sour cream for reduced-fat sour cream or plain Greek yogurt. Opt for cheese made with 2% milk. Serve the dip with baby carrots, celery sticks, and sliced peppers instead of crackers or chips.

The best part… you do not need to tell your guests until they say “this is delicious” and finish it! They will be happily surprised.