By Veronica De Lira, Arizona State University Nutrition Student
We’re in the thick of football season, which means one thing: snacks! Everyone knows football and snacks go hand in hand. Unfortunately, with so many games it can lead us to eating too many unhealthy snacks and forming bad habits.
Research points out that this can lead to bigger health problems, and facts.randomhistory.com states, “junk food has been directly associated with obesity, heart disease, higher blood pressure, and other diseases.” Whereas eating healthy snacks offers plenty of health benefits according to healthyeating.sfgate.com, “a nutritious snack ups your intake of essential nutrients, fiber intake, and antioxidants.”
Here is a list of snacks that both kids and adults can enjoy during the game!
Nachos:
Tostitos Multi Grain Chips
Reduced Fat Cheddar Cheese
Add black beans, tomatoes, lettuce, and black olives
You can even add lean ground beef or jalapenos for a little kick
Multi Grain Tostitos Chips and Avocado Dip or Bean Dip:
For a quick guacamole
Cut 1 avocado and mash it
Add salt and lemon to taste
Slice 1 tomato and add
Depending on the party size, you may need more avocados
Whole grain or whole wheat crackers:
With low fat cheddar cheese or low fat mozzarella cheese
Multi grain chips with homemade salsa:
Salsa ingredients:
3 large tomatoes
½ onion minced
Cilantro (bush)
3 jalapeno peppers, fresh
1 lemon
1 avocado
Directions
Take 3 large tomatoes and dice them into small cubes
Mince ½ onion
De-seed 3 jalapenos and cut them into extremely small pieces
Take 5 cilantro stems, cut off stem and leave the leaf, take the leaf and dice it
Slice avocado into small pieces
Mix all ingredients together
Add a pinch of salt
½ a pinch of pepper
Take ½ a lemon and squeeze it into salsa
Disclaimer for salsa: Add salt and lemon to taste, and depending on the amount of people at your party, you may have to increase the ingredient amounts.
Whole grain pretzels with reduced fat cheddar cheese
Whole grain crackers with hummus
Sliced celery sticks and carrots with hummus or ranch
Mixed nuts
*Sometimes you can find nut platters that have a variety of choices
Popcorn
Orville Redenbacher has a great whole grain choice!
Vegetable Platter
Broccoli
Carrots sticks
Edamame
Celery sticks
Add dipping sauce
* Some stores sell vegetable platters pre-made.
If you liked this post, make sure to check out Fill Your Plate’s 10 Delicious Game Day Recipes for more crowd pleasing dishes!
References:
38 Interesting Facts About…Junk Food. (n.d.). Retrieved September 14, 2015. http://facts.randomhistory.com/interesting-facts-about-junk-food.html
Campbell, M. (n.d.). Bad Effects of Snacking. Retrieved September 14, 2015. http://healthyeating.sfgate.com/bad-effects-snacking-3832.html
Veronica De Lira is currently a student at Arizona State University and is majoring in Nutrition Communication. She enjoys cooking and trying out recipe modifications, as she is an enthusiastic foodie. When not in the kitchen you can find her cheering on her favorite sports teams, going for walks, or catching up on her favorite shows.
