I’m not a huge sports person, I never really have been. Hockey is really the only sport that I can sit through a game and actually enjoy it. I’m a Bruins fan (#srynotsry).
That being said, nights that hockey is on tends to be the nights that Jared wants the more unhealthy options. So now I’m in a bit of a predicament. I can either give him what he wants, or I can figure out ways to make his unhealthy favorites, a little bit healthier.
So let’s look at some of his unhealthy favorites that tend to be requested a lot during hockey season:
Nachos
Pulled Pork
Mozzarella Sticks
and, of course, alcohol.
Nachos are a decently simple fix. You can use ground turkey or chicken in place of the ground beef and make sure you load up on the veggies. I really like to saute onions, garlic, and peppers with the meat. Then, while the meat is cooking, preheat your oven to 350 degrees and then put the cheese (low-fat) on top of the chips and pop them in the oven to heat up. When they’re done, take them out, top them with the meat, some lettuce, tomatoes, if you have beans, they are a great addition and anything else you like on them. The more veggies, the better!!
Pulled pork is one of those things that makes it’s way into a lot of meat eaters’ homes during sports seasons. Whether it’s football, hockey, or even baseball, pulled pork is an easy game day treat. An easy solution to this, and a way to make the cook time lower, is to replace the pork with chicken or turkey. For my pulled pork (or chicken) I put it in the crockpot with some diet root beer and let that do the tenderizing. Then, about 6 hours later, take the pork or chicken out and place it in a bowl. Using a fork or tongs, tear the meat and add your favorite BBQ sauce. It’s super simple and easy!
Mozzarella sticks…….. Oh how we love mozzarella sticks. Is there anything better than warm, melted mozzarella covered in a crunchy crust. No. There’s not. But fried food is not your friend. So, healthy alternatives are always good. I’m still working on one that I think Jared will like, but I will share it with y’all anyway. Get wonton wrappers and low fat mozzarella string cheese. Wrap the string cheese in the wonton wrappers and then brush them with olive oil that has been heating on the stove with garlic in it. Then, bake them until they are golden brown. And, of course, heat up some marinara (Newman’s Own is delicious) and dip them in it. YUM! Okay, now I’m hungry.
As for the alcohol… It’s always better to not drink. But, that’s obviously not realistic. Just be careful of what you’re drinking and realize that it’s all empty calories. This site breaks down which liquors have the most amount of calories and rates them, so it’s definitely worth checking out: http://getdrunknotfat.com/ . And, of course, please always drink responsibly!
If you have any game day treats that you want made a little healthier let me know! You can tweet me at @courtneyweitz, email me at courtney.weitz@gmail.com, or send a comment using the contact me button at the top of the page!