NYNY: Healthy Options for Superbowl Snacking + Red Pepper Hummus Recipe

Whether you’re an NFL fan or not, chances are you’re either hosting or attending a Superbowl gathering this weekend.  I asked Lisa from Jersey Girl Cooks to share a diet friendly recipe with us.   Over the past year, she has become become a friend and also a pro I look to for cooking advice.  She knows her stuff, and is quick to respond to tweets and comments, so make sure you subscribe to her blog and follow her on twitter!

Hello. I am Lisa from Jersey Girl Cooks and I am so excited that Girl Gone Mom had asked me to do a guest post for her on healthy Superbowl snacks. It can be tough to eat healthy and watch calories during football season. The typical foods I think of for football watching are fried Buffalo wings, potato chips with heavy sour cream dips, nachos with plenty of cheese and pigs in a blanket.

I remember after my son was born, I wanted to lose the baby weight. I was doing fairly well for winter but then it was Superbowl party time. It was a challenge to stay on track but there are plenty of things that you can still eat and munch on for the big game. Here are some of the things I serve for the person that wants to cut down on the junk food and unhealthy calories:

· Baked chicken tenders with hot sauce
· Shrimp cocktail
· Low fat turkey chili
· Baked tortilla or potato chips
· Fresh cut fruit with low fat Cool Whip dip
· Fresh veggies and whole wheat pitas with assorted low fat bean dips

There are so many healthy dips you can make but I prefer bean based ones. They pack in healthy protein and fats and are great to serve with veggies, whole grain crackers, chips or pita breads. Hummus is one of my husband’s favorites so I make it quite often. There are so many variations but this one has some roasted red peppers and is made with traditional tahini. Tahini is a Middle Eastern sesame seed paste and can be found in the ethnic isle of your grocery store. It is a fat but because it’s made from seeds, it is one of the “good for you” fats. If you can’t find it, you could leave it out and add a bit extra olive oil and water or substitute almond butter.

Hope you enjoy this dip and happy Superbowl watching! Thanks to Heather for having me here!

Roasted Red Pepper Hummus Dip
2 (15 oz) cans garbanzo beans, drained
juice from one medium sized lemon
¼ cup tahini paste
2 TBS olive oil
2 cloves chopped garlic
1 small jar (6 oz) roasted red peppers, drained
a handful of fresh parsley, trimmed of stems
salt and cayenne pepper to taste
paprika for garnishing

In a food processor, add beans, lemon juice, tahini, olive oil, garlic, peppers and parsley. Process until smooth. Add extra water if you like it more creamy than thick. Add salt and pepper to taste. Sprinkle with paprika to garnish. Serve with veggies, crackers, chips or pitas.

Photo Credits, Jersey Girl Cooks