Tailgate Treats

Oh yes, it's football season!  Before you crack open that Skyline dip, maybe there's a few alternatives to your regular fare you can try?  With these simple substitutes, you guests won't even know the difference!  Here's how to keep your end tight this sports season!

Bite this:Greek yogurt is great for spinach dip.  The tart flavor and thick, creamy texture are a shoe in for dips.  Greek yogurt adds protein and calcium to the dip, and not just fat and salt.Not that:Sour cream.  Sour cream is nothing more than cream treated with lactic acid culture with added gelatin, rennin and vegetable enzymes.  There is not much nutritional value beyond fat.Bite this:Vegetables go great with hummus, and most of us rarely get the recommended number of 4 or more servings/day.  Vegetables are lower in carbohydrate and calories and pack more vitamins, minerals and fiber than crackers.  Think outside of the typical veggie tray and try sugar snap peas, cucumbers, raw green beans and pepper strips.Not thatCrackers are lovely if you're choosing the high fiber variety such as Triscuits.  But if you're serving buttery varieties (think Ritz or Townhouse), there's nothing beyond fat, salt and white flour on your platter.Bite this:Refried beans make a great Mexican dip.  Layer them with salsa, Greek yogurt, green onions and 2% milk shredded cheese for a delicious twist on an old favorite.Not that:Chili dip.  Traditional Cincinnati chili dip is not much more than a bowl of saturated fat, sodium and calories.  If you must have that flavor, try seasoning a can of drained/rinsed black beans or refried beans with a half packet of Cincinnati chili mix and layer your dip as above.Bite this:Popcorn makes a great snack for everyone and can be made ahead of time if needed.  Choose the air-popped variety or 94% fat free microwave types to keep fat, salt and calories in moderation.Not that:Pretzels may be low in fat, but in reality, they're not much better than eating salted, white toast.  Most varieties are made with white flour and the flavored type (like honey mustard) can be higher in fat as well as sugar.