Touchdown Taco Dip

Here is the scene. You've mentally committed to staying as much on track as you possibly can for the Super Bowl. You've come bearing light (or as I call it "diet") beer and a I-can-do-this attitude. Then you spot it. Taco dip in all of its cool, creamy goodness. It may be one of the most popular items to grace the snack line at a party. It has lettuce AND tomato on it, that has to count for something. (Stop right there, do not head down that road. This is not proper rationalization in the taco dip is healthy arguement.)

Taco dip can easily be tweaked into a healthier form by using light or fat-free cream cheese. But why stop there? Many things can be added, and some things substituted, to make the healthiest taco dip you've ever tasted. With this mindset, I have created Touchdown Taco Dip.

What You Need:

1 1/2 cups of Guacamole (pre-made or if you have the time, make your own)

1- 8 oz Package of Fat-Free or Light Cream Cheese

2 tsp of Cumin, dried

1/2 Tbsp of Cilantro, dried

1 Tbsp of Chipotle Chili Seasoning  

1/2 cup of Reduced Fat, Shredded Mexican Cheese

1 cup of Grape Tomatoes, halved

1 cup of Black Beans

What To Do:

Put the cream cheese in a bowl and mix in the cumin, cilantro, and chili seasoning until the cream cheese mixture looks uniform. Next, spread the mixture on the center of a plate. Outline the cream cheese mixture with the guacamole. Sprinkle the top of the dip with the shredded cheese, tomatoes, and black beans. Serve with tortilla chips. (Please note: Hippie Chips will not withstand the weight of this thick dip. Instead, use whole grain tortilla chips in order to get more whole grains. I can attest that Garden of Eatin's Multi Grain Tortilla Chips did the job quite well.)

More whole nutrition and prettier than what you'll find at the store, too!

   

   

Hippie Chips

The end is near. No, not the apocalypse but rather the end of football season. Yes folks, this is the last weekend to waste away a Sunday on a couch or in an crowded establishment with fellow yelling fans. This Sunday, many people will be hosting or headed to Super Bowl parties for one last excuse to gather and indulge in bar food and drinks. This is the time of year when most people are about to give in, or in some cases abandon, their New Years Resolutions. Come on, what is a Super Bowl Party without chips, dip, meat treats, and drinks?  

A pretty lame one, especially if you have no interest in either team winning this year's game. I challenge you to not give in to the temptation of the Super Bowl party.  Let's try this year not to have the snacks and drinks at your party match what is seen on TV commercials. 

In order to help you accomplish this, I have devised a few snacks that can easily fill your party plates and your nutrition tank. Today, I'm starting with something simple: the kale chip. Or as I will refer to it, the Hippie Chip.

What You Need:

1 Pack of Kale

1 Tablespoon of Olive Oil

Salt, to taste

What To Do:

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Wash the kale and dry it thoroughly. Cut off the stems (if it has any) and tear the kale into "chip" size pieces. Spray a baking sheet with cooking spray and place the kale on the sheet. Next drizzle the olive oil over the kale, mix it in, and sprinkle with salt. I used Black Diamond salt, but any salt will do. 

 

Not sure if this a kale on a baking sheet or a train set.

Bake it in the oven for 10 to 15 minutes. The kale should be crispy with some browning on the edges. 

Nice and toasted. 

Hippie Chips can be served immediately or a little later. These chips have a light taste and beat the heck out of a potato chip nutritionally. Yay Vitamin K! Go MUFAs! It's super food for the Super Bowl. 

Stay tuned to see what I have revamped next!    

  

   

  

Pumped Up Eggs

Eggs are a staple on a many breakfast plates. You can fry them, turn them over easy, scramble them, boil them, make an omelet .. the possibilities are endless. Egg whites are a commonly recommended food by many "nutrition experts" due to them being a good protein source. Many people get this information and begin to eat same eggs, day in and day out. If you've ever tasted an egg white, you already know that they are a pretty plain food. That is, if you haven't already doused your egg with hot sauce, salt, and pepper.

Egg whites also aren't as high in protein as one might think. One egg white contains almost 4 grams of protein. Almost. Kind of bummer once you go through the process of cracking the egg, easing the yolk out from the white, and then dumping half of your egg down the sink. Only to repeat the process until you get whatever looks like enough or you're frustrated from separating the yolk.    

That sounds like a lot of work for a few grams of protein. I have another way to up the protein, and taste, of your morning meal.  

What you need: 

2 eggs
1/4 cup of fat free or low-fat cottage cheese
Cooking spray
Chives (optional)

What to do:

Spray a frying pan with cooking spray and heat the pan over medium heat on the stove. Crack one egg and separate the white from the yolk over the bowl, dispose of the yolk. Crack the second egg and either put the entire egg in the bowl or separate the yolk from the egg white again. (For the happy medium, take a spoon and remove half of the egg yolk.) Mix in the cottage cheese. Pour the mixture into the pan and cook until the egg become opaque and solidifies. Feel free to flip or stir the egg in the pan to cook entirely. (If using only whites, it can be a bit watery from the cottage cheese. This is normal.) Sprinkle with chives for a little added flavor and color.

       
Pumped Up Eggs (using one whole egg, one egg white, and fat free cottage cheese)

Calories: 127
Fat: 5 grams
Carbohydrates: 4 grams
Protein: 18 grams