Super Bowl party hosts, did you know you don't have to serve junk food at your halftime appetizers buffet? Nowhere in the Super Bowl Sunday code does it say "thou shalt overindulge." If folks have learned anything from TLC's reality TV show "My 600-lb Life" it's that more people are overweight to obese. Why not serve these vegetarian and ketogenic diet Super Bowl recipes based on weight loss shows from reality television?
Super Bowl of Salad
Mama June of "Here Comes Honey Boo Boo" lost weight after gastric bypass by nixing carb-forward foods. Swap out high-carb Super Bowl apps for salad in team colors.
Chop iceberg and romaine lettuce and add spring mix. New England Patriots fans add grape tomatoes, red peppers, sliced radishes, beets and dried cranberries. Philadelphia Eagles or Patriots fans, use "blue" or purple, grapes, raisins, Greek olives, blueberries, blackberries and purple cabbage. Make dressing blending avocado, Greek yogurt, onions, garlic, lemon juice, and beet or blueberry juice.
Obesity fighting stadium snacks stacker
A lot of mindless snacking goes on during football games so swap chips and pretzels for vegetarian-friendly crudites on your halftime appetizers spread. Make it a stadium snacks stacker. Fill a rectangular cake pan with vegan guacamole for the football field. Pipe light cream cheese for lines.
Make "stands" with cardboard boxes draped in the fabric of team colors. Arrange broccoli florets, scallions, carrot spears, orange and yellow peppers and cucumber slices in square dishes and place in stands.
Pizza halftime apps done light
Weight Watchers says lean meat, eggs, and veggies are free foods. Dr. Now of "My 600-lb Life pushes protein after bariatric surgery.
Make light pizza recipes with thin crust, chunky fruit salsa or diced tomatoes, sliced mini Bella mushrooms, green peppers, onions, green and black olives, spinach, basil and cubed chicken. Top with light Italian, feta or Parmesan cheese.
Better-for-you nachos for weight loss
Don't give up foods you love to lose weight--just do them lighter.
Make Super Bowl nachos, bean dip, tacos and burritos with ground chicken breast or fish. Cook with cumin, oregano, celery seed, smoked paprika, salt-free seasoning, garlic, onion and lime juice. Layer lettuce, fat-free refried beans, guacamole, taco meat, mango pineapple salsa, Greek yogurt or light cottage cheese, tomatoes, olives and fresh cilantro. You will actually burn fat with negative calorie foods.
Vegetarian chili with diet food swaps
Swap burger for beans, tofu, yams, mushrooms or nuts and seeds in Super Bowl Sunday chili. You won't miss the meat in these halftime appetizers but you will bypass calories. Add onion, carrot, celery, cumin, chili pepper, and Hambeens 15 bean soup mix. The antioxidant veggie goodness boosts metabolism and fights obesity.
Finger food halftime apps
Make diet pizza bites on sliced zucchini and summer squash. Spray with non-stick cooking spray and top with Parmesan cheese, sliced chicken sausage, and tomato. Roll lettuce leaves, sliced turkey, apples, walnuts and feta cheese, and slice in pinwheels. Bake kale and sliced Brussels sprouts and substitute for chips. Make hummus with garbanzo beans, black beans, tahini, lemon juice, and garlic.
Buffalo wings swing diet
Remove skin from wings and spritz with spray butter. Blend red and black pepper, garlic, onion and lemon juice and celery seed. Coat buffalo wings and bake. Make buffalo cauliflower swapping florets for wings. Mama June Shannon's trainer on "From Not to Hot" shared food swaps like these.
Super Bowl Sundaes
"My 600-lb Life" celebrities have found they pretty much have to forego baked goods. For halftime app buffet desserts, make sundaes with Halo Top, light ice cream or frozen yogurt. Layer with fruit in team colors. Serve weight loss friendly strawberries, blueberries, kiwi, blackberries, melon, green and red grapes and sliced pineapple. Top with light whipped topping and nuts. These make great Type 2 diabetes-friendly recipes, too.
