4 last-minute healthy Super Bowl snack ideas

Dr. Travis Stork, co-host of the show “The Doctors,” has a quick and easy way to save fat and calories on nachos. One serving of traditional nachos has approximately 1,000 calories and 58 grams of fat.Super Bowl Nachos Corn tortillasSaltLow-fat cheeseSalsaNon-fat Greek yogurtCut the corn tortillas into chips; throw them in a 350-degree oven until they crisp, salt to taste and you just saved 40 calories and over 5 grams of fat in every serving. Top with cheese and melt in the oven, then add salsa and use non-fat Greek yogurt as a substitute for sour cream.Here’s another Tyson recipe from “Hungry Girl” Lisa Lillien that puts the taste of Buffalo wings into a “parfait.”Buffalo Chicken Parfait3 ounces Tyson Grilled & Ready Fully Cooked Refrigerated Oven Roasted Diced Chicken Breast3 tablespoons fat-free plain Greek yogurt1/4 teaspoon ranch dressing/dip seasoning mix1/2 cup shredded lettuce1 tablespoon crumbled blue cheese2 teaspoons Buffalo-style hot sauce1/4 cup diced carrots1/4 cup diced celeryMix yogurt with ranch seasoning in a medium bowl. Stir in lettuce and blue cheese.  In another medium bowl, coat chicken with hot sauce. In a tall glass, layer half of each ingredient: lettuce mixture, carrots, celery, and saucy chicken. Repeat layering with remaining ingredients.Makes 1 serving.Per Parfait: Calories 185, Total Fat 4.5g, Protein 27g, Carbohydrate 9g, Sodium 924mg, Sugars 5g, Fiber 1.5g.“Hungry Girl” Lisa Lillien created this recipe for Tyson Foods. It makes one serving for a meal of two tacos, so double up on the recipe to create four snack-sized portions.Greek Chicken Tacos3 ounces Tyson Grilled & Ready Fully Cooked Refrigerated Grilled Chicken Breast Strips1/4 cup shredded romaine lettuce2 tablespoons finely chopped red onion2 tablespoons drained and chopped roasted red peppers (packed in water)1 tablespoon roughly chopped, pitted kalamata olives1 tablespoon light vinaigrette2 corn taco shells (flat-bottomed, if available)2 dashes dried oregano2 tablespoons crumbled, fat-free feta cheeseIn a medium bowl, mix lettuce, onion, red peppers, olives and vinaigrette.Divide chicken between taco shells, and sprinkle with oregano. Top with lettuce mixture, followed by feta cheese.Entire recipe (2 tacos): Calories 310, Total Fat 11.5g, Protein 28g, Carbohydrate 26g, Sodium 999 mg, Sugars 4g, Fiber 2g.View the list »
Hungry Girl's Greek Chicken Tacos lightens up Super Bowl snack foods.

Weight Loss & Dieting newsletter

Ah, the Super Bowl -- if you're still respecting your New Year's resolution to lose weight, "Junk Food Thanksgiving" can put a serious dent in your efforts with all the chips, pizzas, sodas and pigs in blankets littering your end zone.

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How bad can it get?

You’d have to play 30 minutes of professional football to burn off two handfuls of cheese puffs, according to Charles Platkin, editor of DietDetective.com. He suggests subbing the cheese puffs for homemade popcorn spritzed with a little butter spray and sprinkled with Parmesan cheese.

Heather Bauer, registered dietitian and author of Bread is the Devil, Heather Bauer says to make sure you’re not starving when you get to your Super Bowl bash. Make sure you eat regular meals today before you arrive at the party.

Exercise physiologist Bob Greene, Oprah Winfrey’s diet and fitness pro and founder of the weight-loss program TheBestLife.com, offers these tips:

  • Instead of fried chicken wings, try baked ones.
  • Use ground turkey instead of beef in your chili.
  • Bison burgers make a leaner burger than standard beef.

Want more quick healthy Super Bowl snack ideas? Check out the list below.

View the list
  • “Hungry Girl” Lisa Lillien created this recipe for Tyson Foods. It makes one serving for a meal of two tacos, so double up on the recipe to create four snack-sized portions.Greek Chicken Tacos3 ounces Tyson Grilled & Ready Fully Cooked Refrigerated Grilled Chicken Breast Strips1/4 cup shredded romaine lettuce2 tablespoons finely chopped red onion2 tablespoons drained and chopped roasted red peppers (packed in water)1 tablespoon roughly chopped, pitted kalamata olives1 tablespoon light vinaigrette2 corn taco shells (flat-bottomed, if available)2 dashes dried oregano2 tablespoons crumbled, fat-free feta cheeseIn a medium bowl, mix lettuce, onion, red peppers, olives and vinaigrette.Divide chicken between taco shells, and sprinkle with oregano. Top with lettuce mixture, followed by feta cheese.Entire recipe (2 tacos): Calories 310, Total Fat 11.5g, Protein 28g, Carbohydrate 26g, Sodium 999 mg, Sugars 4g, Fiber 2g.
  • Here’s another Tyson recipe from “Hungry Girl” Lisa Lillien that puts the taste of Buffalo wings into a “parfait.”Buffalo Chicken Parfait3 ounces Tyson Grilled & Ready Fully Cooked Refrigerated Oven Roasted Diced Chicken Breast3 tablespoons fat-free plain Greek yogurt1/4 teaspoon ranch dressing/dip seasoning mix1/2 cup shredded lettuce1 tablespoon crumbled blue cheese2 teaspoons Buffalo-style hot sauce1/4 cup diced carrots1/4 cup diced celeryMix yogurt with ranch seasoning in a medium bowl. Stir in lettuce and blue cheese.  In another medium bowl, coat chicken with hot sauce. In a tall glass, layer half of each ingredient: lettuce mixture, carrots, celery, and saucy chicken. Repeat layering with remaining ingredients.Makes 1 serving.Per Parfait: Calories 185, Total Fat 4.5g, Protein 27g, Carbohydrate 9g, Sodium 924mg, Sugars 5g, Fiber 1.5g.
  • Dr. Travis Stork, co-host of the show “The Doctors,” has a quick and easy way to save fat and calories on nachos. One serving of traditional nachos has approximately 1,000 calories and 58 grams of fat.Super Bowl Nachos Corn tortillasSaltLow-fat cheeseSalsaNon-fat Greek yogurtCut the corn tortillas into chips; throw them in a 350-degree oven until they crisp, salt to taste and you just saved 40 calories and over 5 grams of fat in every serving. Top with cheese and melt in the oven, then add salsa and use non-fat Greek yogurt as a substitute for sour cream.
  • Personal trainer, certified nutritionist and exercise physiologist Franci Cohen offers an alternative to chicken wings using chicken cutlets. Cayenne pepper adds a shot of flavor without any extra calories, and the cayenne can boost your metabolism.Crispy Crunchy Chicken SticksChicken cutlets, cut into 1-inch fingersHoneyFlourGlazed pecansPanko bread crumbsCayenne pepper and salt, to tasteWooden skewersSoak skewers in water to prevent burning. Take each chicken finger and slide onto a wooden skewer. Coat chicken skewer in flour and then brush honey onto chicken to fully coat. Next, dip chicken in mixture of equal parts glazed pecans (finely chopped or pulsed in food processor) and panko bread crumbs, and season with salt and some cayenne pepper to taste.Place chicken skewers on a nonstick pan and bake at 350 degrees for about 10 minutes, or until chicken appears golden.
View the list
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, Weight Loss Examiner

Gail Gedan Spencer is an award-winning blogger and editor who strives to find the perfect combination of diet, exercise and motivation. She is also an NASM-credentialed Weight Loss Specialist. Get in touch with Gail at dietexaminer(at)bellsouth.net.

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