The Super Bowl Healthy Challenge

This Sunday will be a salute to all things greasy, salty and fatty. Super Bowl parties are usually full of bowls of anything bacon-y and cheesy followed by creamy and sugary sweet.  Here's a challenge - can a Super Bowl Party be full of low calories treats with out any threat of artery blockage?

The answer is yes. You can throw a healthy and fun Super Bowl party, with a variety of flavors and textures. Sliders are usually any game day must. Think oven baked or grilled instead of fried. This takes away  frying them in grease. Another healthier choice is veggie burgers,  Gardein has the best with only 130 calories  seventy less than a regular beef one. One must is the hamburger bun  yet it's usually loaded with carbs and calories. Try Sara Lee's eighty calorie whole wheat ones instead of Hawaiian's 220 (!!!) calorie ones. Add soy cheese or feta which comes in at only seventy calories. For variety use hot sauce or sprinkle hot pepper to change it up. Hot dogs are another game day must.  Yet one Oscar Meyer hot dog has 140 calories, twice that of a Morningstar Farms veggie dog, Serve these with chili sauce or vegan cheese for a tasty and healthier alternative, You can even make bacon dogs thanks to the company's fake soy bacon strips. These taste like the real thing so guests won't be missing out on it. Chicken tenders and wings are a Super Bowl tradition however go vegan with the lower calorie vegan versions from Gardein and Morningstar Farms. As for dips for these and baked potato chips use the super healthy unflavored Greek yogurt as the base.

Can you serve salad at a Super Bowl party? Yes! The key is to make it interesting. One of the most flavorful is tabbouleh, the Middle Eastern salad that has bulgur wheat as its' base. Add chopped tomatoes ,cucumbers and spring onions. Garlic, mint and parsley give it its' intense flavor.It's moistened with fresh lemon juice and virgin olive oil. Tabbouleh is a refreshing palate cleanser after steaks and chicken. If you want to try a  spin on Mexican food, then go for a taco salad.Make  it with ground turkey and beans, corns and cubed avocado. Scatter shredded low calorie cheedar on it and serve with a salsa vinaigrette. The last is just adding a generous cup of salsa to a simple olive oil and cider vinegar . Smoked paprika gives it some zing.  Seafood is not really part of the Super Bowl tradition however shrimp salad is not only different but a welcome change. Make one that's richer in taste than calories by combining cooked shrimp with avocados, onions and tomatoes. The salad is splashed with just lime juice and dashed with pepper flakes.Of course make sure there are bowls of veggies and low calorie dips scattered around the viewing area.

Try the Super Bowl healthy challenge. You might be surprised at how much you and your fellow fans will love the change. A healthy change.