Ultimate Party Menu for "The Big Game"

Whether or not your team is in the Big Game this year, you still want to make sure that you are serving touchdown-worthy treats while you and your guests are watching the game. I’ll show you how to swap out the pre-packaged snacks and the convenience foods- that are high-cal, high-fat, and sodium-rich —and replace it with these quick & easy recipe ideas. You’ll lighten up your Big Game menu while still keeping everything delicious and flavorful. Regardless of who wins, you’ll score major points among your guests by serving up a delicious menu!

Appetizers

Baked Zucchini Fries or Eggplant Fries – slice zucchini or eggplant lengthwise so they resemble French Fries, dip them in egg, and then lightly dip and coat them with panko breadcrumbs & Parmesan cheese mixture. On a non-stick baking sheet place them in the oven at 425 degrees F and bake for about 30 minutes, flipping them once halfway through.

Crispy Kale Chips – Take one head of kale, thoroughly wash and remove all the dirt, and allow the leaves to dry throughout. Remove the ribs from the kale and rip the leaves into chip-size pieces. On a non-stick baking sheet, toss the kale with 2 tablespoons of extra-virgin olive oil and another topping of your choice such as Parmesan cheese, crushed red pepper flakes, cumin, or chili powder. Be creative! Place the baking sheet in the oven at 275 degrees F for about 20 minutes, turning them halfway through.

Bite-size Chili Cups – Use whole grain tortilla scoops and fill them with home-made turkey chili- see recipe below- topped with a dollop of guacamole and a sprig of cilantro. (Careful not to fill them to far in advance, otherwise the chips will get soggy and they’ll fall apart)

Other great ideas to include on your appetizer menu are hummus and vegetables, homemade salsa and guacamole, and dips made with non-fat plain Greek yogurt instead of sour cream.

Main Dish

Sliders – The trick here is portion control. You can have a variety of sliders available like Crab Cake sliders, 90% lean ground beef sliders, turkey sliders. Have healthier toppings available for your guests like romaine lettuce, salsa, guacamole, hummus, and reduced-fat cheese.

Simple Turkey Chili – Heat olive oil in a large pot over medium heat, add the ground turkey until browned and cook throughout. Add minced garlic, low-sodium chicken broth, low-sodium canned diced tomatoes, and two different types of low-sodium beans like red kidney beans and white cannellini beans. Then season it up however you like it with herbs and spices such as chili powder, oregano, cayenne pepper, cumin, garlic powder, black pepper, or even smoked paprika! Bring to a boil, then cover it and let it simmer for 30 minutes. Top with guacamole, non-fat plain Greek yogurt, and reduced-fat shredded Cheddar cheese, and some cilantro. Voila!

Ginger & Garlic Shrimp Skewers – In a bowl, combine minced garlic, minced ginger, olive oil, lemon juice, and fresh cilantro finely chopped. Then peel and devein the shrimp but, keep the tails on, and add them to the bowl. Cover and let marinate for up to an hour. Place the shrimps on the skewers and grill over medium-high heat until cooked through.

Desserts

I’ll leave this section up to you! Let your guests bring the dessert options but remember to indulge sensibly and then bump up your physical activity a notch the next day to keep things in balance.

For more recipe ideas, visit our ShopRite Recipe Center at http://plan.shoprite.com/Recipes/?mobile=0.

About Elisabeth D’Alto, RD, LDN:

As the Retail Dietitian for the ShopRite of Timonium, Elisabeth D’Alto, RD LDN works with customers to educate them on making healthier choices while food shopping, as well as carrying out these choices by preparing healthy balanced meals. At ShopRite, Liz carries out a series of healthy cooking classes, offers delicious recipes, holds seminars on pantry makeovers, and even conducts tours for shoppers looking to improve their health. As part of ShopRite’s Retail Dietitian team, Elisabeth D’Alto is one of more than ninety Registered Dietitians who service ShopRite stores in New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Connecticut, Delaware and Maryland. Together these Dietitians offer nutrition advice, meal planning, and diet modification for specific medical conditions.