6 healthy Super Bowl snacks

Instead of saturating your tortilla chips with copious amounts of the beloved dairy product, choose alternate toppings for a leaner, more flavorful approach on these healthy loaded nachos.

Most 7-layer bean dips are packed with sour cream and full-fat cheese. Instead, use do-it-yourself chips, mashed avocados and Greek yogurt.

Potato skins are a must-have for the Big Game. These chipotle chicken sweet potato skins feature sweet potatoes, which are lower in calories and higher in fiber, paired with low-fat cheese.

Nutritional superstar quinoa has a starring role in this black bean and quinoa chili recipe, alongside diced tomatoes, herbs and spices.

Most buffalo chicken wings are deep-fried and loaded with fat and calories. This fitter option calls for boiling and baking the wings.

Vegans at your game party? Try this buffalo-cauliflower wing pizza with tofu-blue cheese spread. Roasting cauliflower makes it crunchy and chewy, not rubbery.

Caramelized onions are folded into black bean patties, then topped with homemade guacamole for these vegan-friendly Mexicali sliders.

Don't forget the chips! Sriracha gives these homemade potato chips a kick. You just need a Russet potato, sriracha, peanut oil and salt.

Replace corn chips with apples for apple nachos? Sure! This dessert-like dish mixes apples, nuts and coconut along with peanut butter and chocolate.

• Super Bowl snacks are rarely nutritious, but there are some easy fixes


• Make garlic crab stuffed mushrooms with Greek Yogurt and low-fat string cheese


• Trade regular potatoes for sweet potatoes to keep the beloved skins


• You can make chili using black beans and quinoa

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(upwave.com) -- For one day a year, nearly everyone becomes a football fan.

Whether the Super Bowl's draw is the halftime show, the commercials or the game itself doesn't really matter: Party snacks are the true common denominator. The problem for would-be healthy eaters is that Super Bowl snacks are rarely nutritious.

Fortunately, there are some easy fixes that'll trim calories and bad fats, allowing you to enjoy the game guilt-free. If only we could cut out the bad play calls just as easily, right?

upwave: 4 vegan-friendly Super Bowl snacks

Garlic crab stuffed mushrooms from Meals & Moves

Stuffed mushrooms are a surefire hit at almost any party, Super Bowl or not. Unfortunately, they're often packed with high-fat ingredients like cheese and sausage.

For a lighter, fitter take on the classic, try this recipe, which replaces less healthy options with protein-rich Greek yogurt (my new favorite substitute ingredient), low-fat string cheese and lump crab meat.

Aside from the delicious flavor, of course, the best thing about these 'shrooms is the fact that eating five will only cost you 79 calories. Score!

upwave: 7 ways to lighten up with Greek yogurt

7-layer bean dip from The Picky Eater

Back in the day, any recipe that featured a layer of sour cream was an instant fave of mine. That's no longer the case, since I've grown older, wiser and less fond of stretchy pants.

Of course, traditional seven-layer bean dip is made with stuff like sour cream, full-fat cheese and premade guacamole, and served with processed tortilla chips. This recipe offers a healthy twist on the original with easy, do-it-yourself chips, mashed avocados, veggies and my aforementioned new love, Greek yogurt (mixed with taco seasoning for flavor).

Trade up your standard refried beans for nutritionally awesome black beans and you've got a real winner on your plate.

Loaded nachos from Living Well Kitchen

Let's face facts here. Most of the time, melted cheese is what turns nachos into a cholesterol-fest.

So instead of saturating your tortilla chips with copious amounts of the beloved dairy product, choose alternate toppings for a leaner, more flavorful approach.

This super-yummy (not to mention attractive) option uses quality ingredients like lean ground beef or turkey, roma tomatoes, onions, bell peppers, jalapeños and salsa to create an appetizer that'll have your guests doing touchdown-style dances of their own.

Of course, if you really love cheesy nachos, you can always sparingly sprinkle the dish with a low-fat variety.

upwave: 5 health benefits of cheese

Chipotle chicken sweet potato skins from Half Baked Harvest

A Super Bowl party without potato skins is pretty much a sacrilege. This year, trade regular potatoes for brightly colored sweet potatoes!

Although regular spuds certainly have their health benefits, sweet potatoes are lower in calories, higher in fiber and vitamin C and are practically bursting with vitamin A.

Mixed with zesty chipotle chicken, sharp low-fat cheddar cheese and various seasonings, this fiber-rich dish will surely become an often-requested specialty.

Black bean & quinoa chili from Fit Foodie Finds

Chili is a staple in many homes during the frosty winter months, and its versatile nature makes it a ton of fun to experiment with.

This recipe incorporates the current darling of the foodie world -- nutritional superstar quinoa -- along with many traditional chili ingredients, such as black beans, diced tomatoes and various herbs and spices.

If you're looking for a leaner, meat-free version of this piping-hot favorite, take this recipe for a spin! Although to chili purists it may seem like a Hail Mary pass, it'll wind up being a tight spiral right into the end zone of yumminess for everyone.

upwave: Why quinoa is good for you

Buffalo chicken wings from Snack Girl

Buffalo chicken wings are almost as delicious as they are messy.

This fan favorite is usually deep fried, though, making the delicacy chock-full of fat and calories -- about 479 for only three ounces! This fitter option from Snack Girl is only 240 calories for four or five wings, which is plenty to satisfy your craving without killing your diet.

The nutritional difference comes via the preparation: These wings are boiled and baked rather than fried. Top them with the sauce of your choice and serve alongside celery for a cool crunch.

upwave: For more ideas, see our Super Bowl guide

This article was originally published on upwave.com

6 healthy Super Bowl snacks

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