Super Bowl party snacks that won’t break your diet

With Super Bowl Sunday right around the corner, aside from talking about the big game, food is on everyone’s mind. 

From crispy chicken wings to delicious dips and, of course, cold beers, Super Bowl Sunday is what dreams are made of.

But with it being January, many of us are watching our diets and trying not to overdose on the bad food. So what if you could have tasty eats that are good for your waistline?

Enter some of your favourite grub lightened up a bit. 

Here are some of my own tried and tested recipes for you to enjoy with friends on Super Bowl Sunday.

We bring you spicy chili, baked hot wings, loaded potato skins and guacamole... 

Spicy Three-Bean Turkey Chili 

Ingredients:

• One onion diced

• One pound ground turkey

• Three cans of beans, rinsed (black, kidney, pinto)

• One can diced or crushed tomatoes

• 1/4 to 1/2 cup chicken broth

• One tablespoon olive oil

• One teaspoon dried

• Oregano

• One teaspoon chili powder

• One teaspoon salt 

• Two teaspoons cumin

• Fresh black pepper

• A squeeze or two or sriracha or one tablespoon chipotle in adobo sauce.

Directions:

• Heat a medium sized saucepan/pot over medium high heat. When hot, add oil then immediately add diced onion. Season with half the salt and saute until translucent. 

• Add the meat and season with the remaining salt and the rest of the spices. Use a spoon to crumble the meat and cook until no longer pink. 

• Add the tomatoes and beans to the pot. Stir around then add the sriracha or chipotle. 

• Add a splash or so of chicken broth until you get a saucy consistency. Let chili simmer on low for 30 minutes to allow the flavours to come together. 

Tip: Serve in a bowl topped with a bit of cheese, sour cream avocado and crushed tortilla chips. 

Guacamole

Ingredients:

• Three medium avocados, halved

• One lime, juiced

• 1/3 cup red onion, minced

• One small clove garlic, mashed

• 1 tbsp chopped cilantro

kosher salt & pepper, 1 jalepeno diced (optional)

Directions:

• Scoop the pulp out of the avocado skin and place into a small bowl.

• Mash the pulp with a potato masher, leaving a few chunks.

• Add the other ingredients and mix thoroughly.

• Serve with carrot sticks, celery sticks or whole grain tortilla chips.

Tip: If you plan to make this ahead of time, put the avocado pit into the bowl to keep the guacamole from turning brown and cover with plastic wrap.

Baked Hot Wings

Ingredients:

• One bag chicken wings, thawed

• 1/2 bottle Franks hot/buffalo sauce

• Two tablespoons butter

• One tablespoon olive oil

• One teaspoon seasonings (I use a mix of salt, pepper and Cajun spice)

Directions:

• Pre-heat oven to 450F degrees

• Season chicken wings with seasoning and oil then put on a baking sheet lined with foil and sprayed with cooking oil.

• Bake wings for 25 minutes, flipping over half way through.

• While wings are cooking, combine hot sauce and butter in a saucepan and fully heat through.

• After 25 minutes, turn the oven onto a high broil and broil wings for three to five minutes per side.

• Once wings are cooked through, toss with sauce and put back in oven for five to ten minutes until they are done.

Tip: If your wings are frozen, let them thaw in a large bowl filled with water. Pat dry with a paper towel before seasoning.

Loaded Potato Skins

Ingredients:

• Eight baking potatoes

• One cup grated cheese (cheddar or a Mexican blend)

• One tablespoon olive oil

• Sour cream

• Scallions

• Crumbled turkey bacon (optional)

Directions:

• Pre-heat oven to 450F degrees and put washed potatos in oven to bake for one hour or until fork tender.

• Once potatoes are cooked, let them cool until room temperature.

• Once cooled, cut potatoes in half length wise and scoop out the flesh, leaving a bit of potato on the skin. You can use this for mashed potatoes tomorrow night.

• Cut the halves in half and drizzle with olive oil. Season with salt and pepper.

• Put the potato skins on a baking sheet sprayed with cooking spray and bake for 15 minutes or until they look crispy.

• Take out of oven and sprinkle a light layer of cheese on each potato skin.

• Top with crumbled turkey bacon if using.

• Put back into oven and bake until cheese is bubbly, about ten minutes.

• Top potatoe skins with a small bit of sour cream and scallions.

Tip: Use leftover potatoes for mashed potatoes or potato cakes.