Football Food...Good eats without going overboard

We have a tradition in our household that no diet or lifestyle change can break, football Saturdays. My husband and I are both Big 10 fanatics, with a passion for our football teams. Despite the fact that we bleed for different teams we each appreciate a good match up.

As I began to shift from a rootin' tootin' broad cheering on my team with a alcoholic beverage in one hand and a hearty plate of football offerings in the other to a very conscious of my calories dame; riding my stationary bike as I cheer on my team, the landscape of our Saturdays changed dramatically. Despite my change in lifestyle there was one thing that I was bound and determined to remain the same, with football there must be food! Good, hearty football food to be exact!

This weekends football fare included oven baked chicken wings and my version of potato skins. Within both of these offerings you will find breading, butter and cheese and some of you may ask is that indeed healthy? You can bet your sweet cheeks they are in comparison to the calorie, carb and grease laden meals of days past. Also because I cooked these meals in my home I'm in control of the portions and I also control the amount of cheese and toppings. Finally I have the ability to make substitutions such as light sour cream, turkey bacon, etc.

For the "potato skins" I lined a pan with aluminum foil and coated with cooking spray. Preheat the oven to 400 degrees and proceeded to melt 3 TBS of Country Crock light. I sliced three large potatoes (discarding the ends) into 1/2 inch slices and brushed each side with melted butter as well as seasoning each side with lite salt, pepper and seasoning salt. I tossed the potatoes in the oven for 35 minutes, removed from the oven and turned the potatoes and allowed them to cook another ten minutes or until tender. I then removed the potatoes and sprinkled on the cheese and then back into the oven for 3 to 5 minutes or until the cheese is melted and bubbly. Once removed I layered on my favorite Applegate turkey bacon that I precooked and diced green onion. I finished off my skins with a side of light sour cream.

 

 

 

 

I got the recipe for the wings from Allrecipes.com one of my favorite sites, for the recipe click here. Please keep in mind that when I cook meat I'm always going to first season it with my main three ingredients (Lawrys seasoning salt, garlic salt, pepper) once seasoned I proceeded to dip the chicken in butter as directed and continued with the recipe as instructed. Both myself and my husband enjoyed the food and the football and because I make working out on Saturday morning mandatory I have no reason to let my lifestyle interfere with our love of the game. For those of you wondering I only drank water but I did enjoy a couple glasses of wine and a movie Sunday night, everything in moderation!