Looking for ways to cut out the fat at this year’s SUPERBOWL party? Try some of these tips…

* Take chili, for instance: all those beans and tomatoes that form the base of this versatile dish are wonderfully nutritious by themselves. So choose extra-lean beef or turkey to accompany them, or forgo meat altogether and add an extra can or two of reduced-sodium beans instead. Provide reduced-fat cheese to sprinkle on the chili, and reduced-fat or fat-free sour cream for garnish.

* Make cornbread with part whole-wheat flour, and use low-fat or fat-free buttermilk and canola oil in your recipe for a healthy, low fat version.

* Load your potato skins with salsa or just a sprinkling of reduced-fat cheese and fat-free sour cream. Add some paprika or even some cayenne pepper to spice them up a bit.

* Oven fry some skinless chicken pieces dipped in egg white, or buttermilk, and dredged in breadcrumbs, cornmeal or crushed cornflakes. Serve with a honey-mustard or barbecue sauce.

* Serve home-made baked tortilla chips or pita crisps, and serve them with low-fat dips that use fat-free or reduced-fat sour cream, yogurt or cream cheese as their base.

* Make fresh salsa. Add some chopped peach or mango for something different.

Have a large plate of cut veggies to go with the dips, too: include different colored sweet peppers and jicama, as well the usual carrots and celery.

* Serve a big salad platter featuring groups of black beans, sweet corn, chopped red onion or scallions, chopped tomatoes, artichoke hearts, diced avocado, chopped green pepper and shredded reduced-fat Jack cheese. Make a lime-based vinaigrette to go with it.

* Instead of buying one of those huge over-filled subs, have your guests make their own lower-fat sandwiches. Provide a variety of lean (and low-sodium) meats and reduced-fat cheeses, a variety of whole-grain breads, wraps, rolls and bagels, plus some fat-free or low-fat mayos and dressings. Have pickles, sliced tomatoes, shredded carrots, salad leaves, roasted red peppers, pesto, and sun-dried tomatoes, all of which can help make a satisfying sandwich. Make tuna or chicken salad with fat-free mayo or low-fat plain yogurt. Use herbs and black pepper for seasoning, and omit the salt.

* Provide reduced-fat potato chips or the baked variety. Make your own snack mixes using whole-grain cereals, dried fruit, unsalted nuts, sunflower seeds, pumpkin seeds and pretzels.

* Don’t forget the sweets. Bake a batch of low-fat brownies or some carrot cake. Have plenty of chopped fresh fruit on hand, too.

* As for beverages, keep the coffee pot full, and do have plenty of water and fruit juices available as alternatives to beer and soda.

* Don’t eat too much! It’s all very well cutting fat here and there, but if you pile your plate high with party food, you won’t be doing yourself any favors.

Have a great night and GO STEELERS!!

source: about.com/F. Haynes

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