Tailgating season is synonymous with good friends, good times, and good food. However, many of the recipes prepared for tailgating aren’t exactly healthy. Indulging in those delicious, calorically-dense snacks is perfectly fine once in a while… everything in moderation, after all. However, consider making one (or all!) of these healthier, but still delicious, recipes at your next tailgate.
Hot wings are a tailgating staple, but since they’re usually deep fried and cooked in heaps of butter, they aren’t always the healthiest. There are a number of ways to make healthier baked buffalo chicken wings, but here’s one very simple option modified from this recipe.
Ingredients:
Instructions:
In a large bowl, mix hot sauce, vinegar, and all of the spices. Add the chicken wings and let everything marinate for 30 minutes, or more if you have time. Next, broil the wings on low for 10-12 minutes per side. As the chicken cooks heat up some more hot sauce, and then toss the wings in the additional sauce before serving.
You don’t have to be a vegetarian to enjoy these crispy, flavorful cauliflower buffalo bites.
Ingredients:
Instructions:
Preheat your oven to 450 degrees and then combine the flour, water, garlic powder, and salt. Whisk everything until smooth, then toss the cauliflower in the batter. Place on a greased baking sheet. Bake for 15 minutes and give everything a good toss halfway through.
While the cauliflower is cooking, mix the melted butter and the hot sauce in a large bowl. After the cauliflower is cooked, gently toss it in the hot sauce and butter mixture. Finally, bake the cauliflower one more time – 25 minutes or until crispy.
Chicken wings, cauliflower bites, and standard veggies all go well with a creamy dip, like ranch. But, store bought ranch dips are loaded with extra calories and questionable ingredients. It’s easy to make ranch at home, using Greek yogurt instead of the standard mayonnaise.
Ingredients:
Instructions:
Simply mix the ranch seasoning with Greek yogurt! You’ll want to experiment with quantities until you get the right taste, but a good rule of thumb is 1 cup of yogurt to 1 tablespoon of ranch mix.
Most deviled egg recipes rely on heaping doses of mayonnaise, but it’s easy to make this popular snack healthier.
Ingredients:
Hard boil the eggs by putting them in a pot and fully covering them with cold water. Turn the stove to high and add a pinch of salt. Cover the pot, bring the water to a boil, and then turn off the heat. Let the eggs sit, covered, for 12 minutes. Rinse with cold water, and then wait for them to cool. Peel and cut the eggs lengthwise.
Put the whites on a plate, and the yolks in a bowl. Combine all of the remaining ingredients (minus the paprika) with the yolks and mix it all up. Add the yolk mixture back into the egg whites, garnish with paprika, and enjoy! When you have your basic recipe perfected, try making some other tasty additions like curry powder.
When the temperatures drop, don’t reach for the powdered hot cocoa mix. This hot chocolate recipe from MindBodyGreen combines vanilla almond milk, raw cacao, raw honey, and coconut oil for a delicious, creamy hot chocolate that’s full of healthy superfoods. Just increase the amount of each ingredient that you use to accommodate your tailgating crew.
Fall is the perfect time to enjoy everything pumpkin flavored, but you don’t have to bake an entire pie to enjoy this taste of autumn. These pumpkin pie bites are too simple not to make.
Ingredients:
Instructions:
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. While the oven is heating, spoon the pumpkin pie mix into your mini pastry shells, filling them until the mix is over the top of the shell. Put the filled shells onto a greased or nonstick baking sheet, and bake for 25 minutes. For an extra treat, top with whipped cream.
Do you have any favorite tailgating recipes that have a healthy twist? Be sure to share them in the comments!
Healthy employees build healthy businesses, and your employees receive the health protection they expect and deserve when you partner with RMHP. Whether you’re a small business or large employer, we have a group health insurance plan that will fit your employees’ needs.
Our plans offer the coverage, network, and health management resources you and your family need for your Colorado lifestyle. Get the personalized attention and quality care you deserve from your local health insurance option that has been serving our communities for over 40 years.
Since 1977, Colorado retirees like you have trusted RMHP to get the most out of their Medicare benefits. Enjoy local customer service, a wide variety of services, and a large provider network by choosing RMHP.
