I am GUILTY of loving the food and commercials a little bit more than the actual BIG GAME. Shhh…don’t tell my husband as he is the ultimate football lover. Here is the problem I often have with attending parties for the BIG GAME. The food is delicious but not always healthy and it can certainly derail New Year Resolutions of eating healthier!

Here are some tips for the Big Game to make sure you don’t derail your New Year resolutions:

1. Bring something with you!

We’ve got the ultimate recipe that is a crowd pleaser and reduced fat and calories. This is a win-win in my book. Better yet it is the winner of the 2017 Undeniably Dairy Appetizer Recipe Contest.

To show you exactly how to make this crowd pleasing recipe join Heather Mangieri, Registered Dietitian, Author of Fueling Young Athletes, and Owner of Nutrition Check Up and American Dairy Association North East’s Registered Dietitian, Michelle Barber @DairyMomRD will be doing a FaceBook Live on Friday, February 2, 2018. Tune in at 3:30PM on American Dairy Association North East’s Face Book Page. If you tune you in you can have the chance to win one of three prize packages that include Yancey’s Fancy Cheese Gift Packs and Heather Mangieri’s Book, “Fueling Young Athletes”. For more information about the contest see the rules here.

Big Game appetizer and giveaway advertisement

2. Eat the cheesecake but not the whole cheesecake!

This is something that I consistently remind people and myself about. It’s important not to restrict or exclude food from your diet. It’s simple human behavior that if you do restrict or exclude something, you just want it more. Eat the food you want, but in moderation. And always fill up that tummy with something healthy before some of those not-so-healthy foods.

3. Eat before your go!

Don’t show up to the BIG GAME starving. You’ll most likely eat everything in site and overeat. Instead plan out a small meal prior to going to the party. Make sure you include some protein in that meal. Protein is a great way to provide satiety or a feeling of fullness. This will help in reducing the number of calories you eat at the Big Game.

Reduced-Fat Buffalo Wing Dip

Ingredients:

  • 32 oz chicken breast, raw, skinless, boneless
  • 1/3 cup hot sauce, cayenne pepper (such as Frank’s Red Hot)
  • ½ cup reduced fat Greek yogurt ranch dressing
  • 1 package (8 ounces) 1/3 less fat, plain cream cheese
  • ½ cup shredded cheddar cheese
  • 2 Tbsp green onion, fresh green and bulb, sliced

Directions:

  • Preheat oven to 250 degrees
  • Remove any visible skin from the boneless, skinless chicken (you do not want any fat from the chicken in this dish.) Cut each breast into 6 pieces and place in a baking dish. Bake on low heat for 2 hours (the chicken will be very tender and shred very easy when cooked at this low heat.) Remove chicken from the oven and place the cooked breast in a large bowl. Set the liquid that resulted from cooking the chicken aside. Using your hands or a fork, pull the chicken apart until it is shredded in the bowl. Add ½ cup of the liquid broth (the liquid that was left behind in the baking dish to the shredded chicken. Pour the remaining liquid into a separate bowl.

Increase oven temperature to 350 degrees F.

Mix the hot sauce, cream cheese and ranch dressing in a bowl or food processor. Once blended, stir into the chicken. If you feel the mixture is too dry, add more liquid.

Transfer the chicken mixture back to the baking dish, making sure to spread it evenly. Sprinkle with shredded cheddar. Bake in the over for ~ 20 minutes or until the cheese is melted. Garnish with 2 Tbsp green onion.

Makes 18 servings. Serving size ¼ cup.

Recipe for Ranch Dressing:

Ingredients:

  • 1 cup skim milk
  • ½ cup Greek yogurt
  • ½ cup light mayonnaise
  • 1 package rand salad dressing and seasoning mix

Directions:

  • Mix all ingredients together and pour into a mason jar or other salad dressing container. Chill in refrigerator for 30 minutes. Stir before serving.