By: Lucy Dunn

 

Whether you’re a Pats fan or rooting for the Eagles, the one thing we can agree on is that the snacks on Sunday will be nearly as important as the football. On average, 1.25 billion chicken wings and 8 million pounds of guacamole are consumed on Super Bowl Sunday. It is one of the biggest days for the NFL, but it is also the day when people spend hours drinking beer, eating chips, and scarfing down wings. 

I love the food festivities as much as the next American, and I can (and have) eaten carbs all day long. But there are simple substitutions which can make your Sunday a little healthier:

 

1: Choose a low-calorie beer

 

 

 

Miller Light was voted the best light beer on ranker.com. Sam Adams Light and Bud Light came in the #2 and #3 spots. They may not be as hearty as an IPA, but they will get the job done. If you’re not in a committed relationship with a certain beer, try something lighter.

 

2: Grill or bake your chicken wings

 

 

Wings are hard to resist, but sticking them on the grill or in the oven will save yourself from fried grease. Also, instead of lathering your chicken wings, keep a little bowl of sauce on the side so you can portion out exactly how much you’re using!

 

#3: Trade the mozzarella sticks for sweet potato skins

You can skip the cheese, bacon, and oil by topping off your potato skins with guacamole, tomato, onion, and cilantro. They are vegetarian, gluten-free, and who doesn’t love some good guac? 

 

 

#4: Switch out buffalo wings for Sriracha-buffalo cauliflower bites

 

 

These are spicy and addicting, not to mention vegetarian, gluten-free, and low-carb. Throw together cauliflower with olive oil, salt, and pepper. Roast them until they’re crispy, and toss them in sriracha, hot sauce, and lemon juice. Serve with a side of ranch or blue cheese dressing. View the whole recipe here. 

 

#5: Serve up some dessert nachos

 

 

You can’t have game day without a huge platter of nachos. Tortilla chips stacked high with layers of ground meat, cheese, onions, guac, and sour cream can be a greasy, messy, carpet hazard. Satisfy those sweet tooth junkies with apple slice nachos instead! Thinly slice apples and drizzle with chocolate syrup or caramel sauce, and top with some chopped nuts or mini chocolate chips. Dominate the dessert game while staying on the healthy side.