super bowl snack tips
A Fumble-Free Super Bowl
The Super Bowl is more than just a game. It’s practically a national holiday. Best of all, it’s an excuse to get together with your friends or family and eat nachos amidst cheers, laughs, and calls for the referee’s head. Or, if you’re one of the few who can keep your emotions in check during the big game, you’re keeping a sharp eye out for the moment the baked mozzarella sticks are warmed and ready for dipping. After all, what’s a Super Bowl party without your favorite delicious cheese snacks?
Opening Kick-Off
The game (and its much anticipated commercials!) may be the central focus of Super Bowl Sunday, but everyone secretly knows the success of your gathering has little to do with the action on the field. It boils down to the variety of snacks being served. Chips are a given but, surprisingly, dips are not. Luckily for your home team, there’s a bunch of nutritious, dairy-based dips that will fire up the crowd like a game-changing interception.
Impress your friends with this recipe for baked spinach artichoke dip (great with carrot sticks or cubes of whole wheat bread, too). Or take a step away from the expected with chipotle pepper dip and southwestern taco dip. That’s right. Tacos in a dip. It’s likely to become your signature, Super Bowl party classic.
Score a touchdown when you serve this hot pizza dip, made with Parmesan and part-skim Mozzarella. Your friends will be ready for a victory dance.
Bonus: As an alternative to chips, serve up a platter of garden fresh snap peas, celery, cherry tomatoes or zucchini. Compliment this winning-streak with creamy cucumber yogurt dip.
Keep the drive alive!
Snacks alone aren’t enough to to ensure everyone makes it to the fourth quarter. Keep the party going with a platter of cheesy chicken crunchers, a subtle twist on a finger-licking classic. Another unique dish that’s sure to have your friends asking for a replay are the BBQ Ranch Quesadilla Wedges. They’ve got the perfect savory blend of cheese, beef, and spices.
Finally, there are beef burritos with pepper jack cheese and black beans that will overshadow every punt return, while your bow tie pasta with chicken confetti will disappear quicker than the losing team’s fans. And what’s a Super Bowl party without some cheese lovers pizza squares?
Special teams can help win the game!
You don’t have to stay away from dairy with your guests who are sensitive to lactose. You can still help them get the health benefits of dairy by choosing alternatives in the milk food group, such as low-fat yogurt with active cultures or lactose-free milk.
Here are some tips:
- Offer treats containing cultured dairy products like yogurt, which has natural-occurring, live, active bacteria that helps with digestion.
- Put out a tray of harder, aged varieties of cheese like Cheddar, Swiss and Edam. These are all low in lactose.
- Be sure to have a bottle of lactose-free milk, available in most stores.
Fumble free festivities
The Super Bowl is a once-a-year event. By following these tips and making our delicious dairy recipes, you can help friends and family stay healthy while guaranteeing the memories of the party will last—at least until next year’s game.