I love me some football.

Actually, let’s be clear, I love me some STEELERS Football. 

The fact that they are starting this season 4-0 just brightens my day!

Typically I try to stay away from polarizing political and sports-related topics, so I’ll get on with it….

If you are anything like me, and if your family is anything like my family, when the “big game” is on, you want to be eating something yummy. It just so happens that traditionally, this yummy food is cheesy, greasy, fried, and loaded with all the things that are not very good for you.

But it doesn’t have to be this way!

Here are my top three favorite Game Day Eats – you can make for yourself, your family, or for any socially-distanced gathering you might attend this year! 

1. Buffalo Cauliflower Bites.  

  • First, preheat your oven to 450 degrees and coat a baking pan with non-stick spray.
  • In a bowl, combine ½ cup hot sauce (less if you don’t like the heat!) with a tablespoon of melted butter, and garlic powder, salt, and pepper. 
  • Wash and chop a head of cauliflower into bite-sized florets. 
  • Combine the cauliflower and the sauce mixture in a large zip-top bag, seal, and shake until florets are well coated. 
  • Spread on the pan in a single layer and roast for about 20 minutes, turning as needed.

2. Chili

  • In a pan, sauté a pound of lean ground meat – being sure to opt for meat that is at least 90% lean, and don’t be afraid to try ground turkey, or even a faux meat filling! (I typically make a smaller pan with broken up black bean burgers as the base for myself!)
  • While cooking the meat, I add in some yummy spices – cumin, turmeric, chili pepper, garlic salt, onion powder, and coriander. If I’m really feeling in the mood I’ll also add a packet of ranch seasoning (probably not the healthiest option, but it does add some great flavor!! I figure the veggies in the next step help balance it out!)
  • Next, add in some high-fiber, protein-packed black and pinto beans, along with onions, peppers, diced tomatoes, and corn. 
  • I serve on chili on top of brown rice. 
  • I’ve convinced my hubby to swap the cheese and sour cream for plain Greek yogurt as a topping instead, and it is a much healthier option than some of those other toppings!

3. Taco Bar (Who doesn’t love tacos?)

  • As with chili, choose the leanest ground meat you can find, or even shred some seasoned chicken breast for a fun spin. 
  • Warm some soft corn or whole wheat flour tortillas 
  • Roughly chop lettuce, (hey – you can even nix the shell altogether and build a taco salad here!) 
  • Include plenty of veggies to top your tacos – onions, tomatoes, corn, black beans, diced peppers, guacamole, and salsa.

 We may not see eye to eye on our favorite sports team, but I think we can all agree that with these game day treats, we can’t go wrong!

Go Steel—errrr, I mean, Bon Appetite!