Football season is officially underway! Today on CBS WTOC’s Morning Break, I shared the ultimate healthier Homegating spread.
DIY Football Party Platter
This platter pairs protein from cheese and filling fiber from produce and whole grains. The combination of fiber and protein will keep you energized and satisfied while watching the game without ruining your appetite for the main course. Start by arranging cheese slices into a football shape and use string cheese for the laces. Cheese is a good source of protein and calcium so feel free to use your favorite variety. Around your football, arrange your produce – here I am adding celery sticks, cucumbers, carrots, broccoli and grapes. Finally add your whole grains – I am adding popcorn and crackers. You can also serve with nutritious dips like hummus, salsa or guacamole.
Plant-based “wings”
Next, it’s not gameday without wings! These bbq wings are made with two secret ingredients… CAULIFLOWER and vegetable-sweetened bbq sauce. Cut one head of cauliflower into florets and add to a baking sheet in a single layer. Whisk together 1/3 cup of flour, 1 tsp of paprika, 1 tsp garlic and salt and pepper to taste with 1/2 cup of milk or nut milk. Dip cauliflower florets into the mixture and bake for 20 min at 450 F. Next, dip your florets into your vegetable-sweetened BBQ sauce. Bake for another 15 minutes and you have crispy bbq cauliflower bites that are vegetarian friendly and packed with great veggie nutrition – filling fiber, vitamins, minerals and antioxidants.
Sheet Pan sweet potato “chip” nachos
Next we have the ultimate game-day finger food – nachos made on a sheet pan. Instead of tortilla chips, I bumped up the nutrition and fiber with sweet potato coins as the base. To start, I am adding black beans as the protein source but you can also add a lean meat like ground turkey or shredded chicken, next I am adding veggies – corn, diced tomatoes and bell peppers, finally I am adding good fats – olives then topping with cheese and broiling in the oven for 1-2 minutes until the cheese melts. Serve with salsa or guacamole and you have you have your nutritious upgraded nachos.
Brownies made with black beans
Finally we have a game-day dessert with benefits – brownies made with blacks beans! Beans add fiber and plant protein to this recipes as well as volume and moisture that allows you to cut back on the amount of fat and total calories. And the best part is that your kids wont even be able to taste them. To a food processor, blend together 1 can of rinsed black beans, 2 tbsp of coca powder, 1/2 cup of oats, 1/3 cup of maple syrup, 1/4 cup of vegetable oil, 2 tsp vanilla extact, 1/2 tsp baking powder and pinch of salt. Blend until smooth, transfer to an 8 x 8 baking dish and bake for about 20 minutes at 350 F.
