This year, #StopStartingOver and enjoy the game without ditching your health and fitness goals. These recipes are healthy alternatives to game day favorites.
Party Recipe #1: Spinach and Artichoke Dip
This football Sunday recipe is packed with nutritious ingredients, but no worries, you don’t need to warn your friends! Creamy, rich and cheesy, no one will realize it’s a healthy alternative to the standard indulgent spinach and artichoke dip. We love using cashews as the base of the recipe, instead of cheese, to keep the creaminess without weighing us down.
We also love using grass-fed goat cheese because it ramps up the flavor and is a rich source of omega-3s, especially CLAs, and gut-friendly probiotics. Half a cup of goat cheese is all you need to give this recipe a delicious cheesy flavor. Bring this Spinach and Artichoke Dip to your game day party as a dish to pass and you’ll have everyone asking to steal your recipe!
Ingredients
- – 1¼ cups raw cashews
- – 1 tbsp. coconut oil
- – 5 garlic cloves
- – ¾ cup chopped shallots
- – 1½ cups unsweetened plant-based milk
- – 5 tbsp. nutritional yeast
- – 4 cups fresh spinach (packed)
- – 1 14-ounce can artichoke hearts
- – ½ cup grass-fed goat cheese
- – Salt and pepper to taste
Directions
Soak cashews overnight, or for at least 1 hour, in a bowl of water. Drain the cashews after they’re fully soaked. Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Heat a pan on the stove and melt coconut oil. Mince garlic and shallots and saute for 2 minutes.
Once caramelized, add to a high-speed blender or food processor, along with cashews, plant-based milk, nutritional yeast, salt and pepper. Blend until a creamy texture is reached and scrape down the sides as needed. Rinse, drain, dry and chop artichoke hearts and finely chop spinach.
Over medium-high heat, add spinach and artichokes to the pan and saute for 5 minutes. Add goat cheese and stir until fully melted. Pour blended cashew mixture into pan and continue to stir until well combined. Transfer to a glass dish and bake for 5 to 8 minutes.
Party Recipe #2: Buffalo Bean Dip
Did you know the average buffalo chicken dip has roughly 600 calories? If you are mindlessly snacking at your game day party, you can quickly rack up your entire daily calorie intake! This Buffalo Bean Dip recipe gives you the same indulgent flavor, without the excess calories or guilt. Full of healthy fats, fiber and protein, this Buffalo Bean Dip will make you feel full and satisfied, helping you keep your snacking under control while you’re cheering on your favorite team!
Ingredients
- – 1 cup raw cashews
- – 1 15-oz. can white beans
- – ¾ cup hot sauce
- – ½ cup feta cheese (goat milk and grass-fed preferred)
- – 1 tbsp. ranch seasoning
- – 1 tsp. garlic powder
- – 1 tsp. onion powder
Directions
Soak cashews overnight, or for at least 1 hour, in a bowl of water. Drain the cashews after they’re fully soaked. Drain and rinse white beans. Add all ingredients to a food processor or high-speed blender and blend until smooth. Scrape down sides and adjust spices as needed. Store in refrigerator until ready to serve.
Party Recipe #3: “Nutella” Dessert Hummus Dip
We’ve never met anyone who doesn’t love Nutella, making this “Nutella” Dessert Hummus Dip a crowd-pleaser for your game day party! Why eat a dessert filled with sugar and processed ingredients when you can enjoy this “Nutella” Dessert Hummus Dip that is 100% natural? Made with real hazelnuts and cacao—chocolate in its purest form—this recipe gives you a rich flavor without the guilt attached.
Ingredients
- – 1 15-oz. can chickpeas
- – 4 tbsp. cacao powder
- – ½ cup hazelnuts
- – ¼ cup pure maple syrup
- – ¼ cup plant-based milk
- – 1 teaspoon salt
- – 1 tablespoon vanilla extract
Directions
Soak cashews overnight, or for at least 1 hour, in a bowl of water. Drain the cashews after they’re fully soaked. Drain and rinse chickpeas. Add all ingredients to a high-speed blender or food processor and blend until smooth. Stop to scrape down sides and add more plant-based milk until desired texture is formed.