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A healthy championship game menu is easy to plan, if you know where to look. This collection of healthy appetizers, entrees, and desserts will please your big game party crowd, and your waistline, too!
“Oh come on, one isn’t going to kill you.”
You feel your skin crawl underneath your jersey. You don’t want to be rude, but you’re not that kind of girl anymore.
A polite smile shoves its way onto your face.
“No, thanks,” a nervous laugh yelps through your dry lips. “Really, I shouldn’t. I promised myself I wouldn’t.” And that’s true. You swore this junk off on January 1st.
Others are staying to notice. They’re getting impatient. “Get over yourself,” some guy barks from the end of the line. Great. Now he’s making you seem like a stuck-up… well, you know.
She’s holding it in your path now. “Here, just try it. You’ll love it,” she says, still smiling. She grabs your wrist to steady your hand. Before you know it, you’re on your way to the couch with a hit of everything you’d promised yourself you were leaving in the past, right back on your plate.
The girl who made that promise on January 1st never banked on being peer-pressured into eating a chili dog on big game Sunday.
Now imagine a different scenario. One where your commitment to eating (deliciously) healthy foods isn’t at odds with the buffet at a game day get-together. You get to partake in everything up for grabs, because it’s all good for you. And it tastes amazing.
It’s all within reach, friend. And it starts right here, with my healthy championship game menu.
Healthy Championship Game Menu
Isn’t it funny that just about a month after many of us resolve to get healthy, we have a giant party where we eat foods that aren’t? Buffalo wings, chips and dip, ooey gooey brownies. What’s a girl to do when her already fragile willpower is flickering out?
Serve healthy versions of those game day menu favorites, of course!
The 11 recipes below are pulled from my favorite healthy food blogs. Some are vegan. Some are gluten-free or dairy-free. However, they are all lighter on sugar and fats than traditional game day dishes.
I don’t expect you to use this menu in its entirety. My goal is to provide a variety of lower-calorie options to create your own healthy championship game menu. Or a healthy game day menu for any game of the year! Choose the appetizers, entrees, and desserts that sound good to you, and let the game begin.
Is the crowd coming to your house on championship game Sunday? I’ve got some great tips on how to host a stress-free championship game party!
Healthy Big Game Appetizers
Skinny spinach artichoke dip from Happy Healthy Mama. Greek yogurt joins a trio of cheeses to create one seriously yummy dip that tastes like a guilty pleasure. This recipe comes together quickly, and doesn’t require a ton of ingredients. Blend it, bake it, serve it.
Baked French fries with chipotle ranch dip from Paleo Running Momma. These fries are oven-crispy, paleo, and Whole30. I’ll admit it… fries are my weakness. Instead of a nacho bar, why not offer a fries bar featuring these sinless baked spuds?
Healthy white bean dip with avocado and cilantro from Peas and Crayons. This delicious dip is gluten-free, vegetarian, and vegan. This zesty dip whips up in 5 minutes flat, and it’s packed with protein.
Baked buffalo cauliflower bites from Life Tastes Good. Legend has it these buffalo cauliflower bites are a dead ringer for buffalo wings. Maybe your guests will be so engrossed in the game, they won’t even realize you’re feeding them healthy food! The recipe would be easy to triple or quadruple for a crowd.
Veggie-loaded 7-layer dip from Little Broken. Katya from Little Broken shook up traditional 7-layer dip and reimagined it with tons of veggies. Don’t think it’s short on flavor, though. It’s packed with red onion, cilantro, lime juice, and chipotle pepper. As a result, it packs tons of yum.
If you’re looking to up the swank factor among your aperitifs, then check out my list of healthy holiday appetizers. They’re just as tasty, with a bit of pinkie-out refinement!
Healthy Big Game Entrées
Baked boneless wings 4 ways from Host the Toast. Can’t decide on a wing sauce? This recipe includes 4! Boneless, skinless chicken breasts, crispy-crunchy cereal, and oven-baked perfection mean these wings won’t spoil your beach bod. I will say that the sauces aren’t exactly light. But because the chicken isn’t deep-fried, you can afford to splurge on calories in the condiments.
Healthy chicken nachos from A Healthy Life for Me. Another quick and easy recipe, these nachos are ready to serve in 10 minutes! And the secret? pre-cooked chicken tenders, shredded and tossed in a homemade chipotle sauce. Top with veggies, and you have a crowd-pleasing plate of secretly-healthy nachos.
Healthy crockpot pulled pork from The Clean Eating Couple. I tried this recipe and fell in love with it. It’s paleo, Whole30, and low in fat. Lean pork tenderloin is soaked in a flavorful marinade, then slow-cooked in chicken broth for 6 hours. As a result, it’s tender, juicy, and delicious. It’s great on its own, or use it as an alternative to chicken in the nacho recipe above!
Healthy Big Game Desserts
Strawberry oatmeal bars from Well Plated by Erin. Anymore, my grocery store stocks strawberries year-round. Why not take advantage with these strawberry oatmeal bars? Weighing in at just 100 calories per serving, they feature simple ingredients, whole grains, and a vanilla glaze.
Banana split bites from Life Love Liz. Fun on a stick is just 5 ingredients away with these pint-sized banana splits! (Okay, there’s no ice cream, but close enough.) They’re big on fruit, with touches of chocolate and nuts. As a result, they’re practically guilt-free! Plus, they’re quick and easy to assemble. Try slicing the fruit ahead of time to make championship game day assembly a snap.
Avocado brownies from Frugal Mom, Eh! Anyway, avocado brownies have been around for a while now. But these are too devilishly fudgy and gooey not to mention! Topped with chocolate frosting and sweetened with honey or maple syrup (Choose your own adventure!), they’ll be the hit of your healthy championship game menu.
Oh – and if you’re short on time, my quick and easy blueberry muffin loaf has just 3 ingredients. Mix it up, throw it in the oven, and you’re done!
Healthy Championship Game Menu: Conclusion
Indulging in game day eats doesn’t have to mean compromising your health, or your waistline. Plan a healthy championship game menu full of mouth-watering appetizers, entrees, and desserts. As a result, you’ll please your crowd of partygoers, and keep your promise to a healthy lifestyle.
No chili dogs allowed.