With soccer, football and other fall sports filling up family weekends, Sara Lee executive chef Brian Averna shares some healthy alternatives to usual hot dogs and pizza.
My wife and I spend most of the fall season in the bleachers at various sports games watching our kids play their hearts out. Rather than spend money on food at the concession stands and risk missing a big play, I like to bring my own snacks. Some of the items I like to bring to the game have a bit of a healthier twist on the traditional “go-to” concession stand items, while some of the recipes are family favorites that provide energy and stamina for my all-stars.
Let me take you through some of my favorite snacks for the game.
Yogurt with orange slices: As soon as my kids get to the field they are starving and they need a little boost of energy to get them going. Of course, we all know that the traditional “soccer moms” never go to a game without oranges, well I am the same way, but I add a little twist. I take plain vanilla yogurt and add in food coloring that corresponds with their team color to show a little team spirit. Then, I cut up some oranges that they can dip in the low-fat yogurt and the kids love it. They love the fun colors, the yogurt is healthy and the oranges provide them with that much needed boost.
Cookie cutter sandwiches: My kids love it when we show our team spirit, so I always make their favorite sandwiches and use a cookie cutter to cut them into shapes that correspond with their team. So, for the Warriors, I cut the sandwiches into “W” shapes with a simple cookie cutter. I usually make a lot of these and bring them in bulk because their friends love them, too. I make the sandwich using a really healthy whole grain white bread like Sara Lee Soft and Smooth Whole Grain White Bread and some Sara Lee Premium deli meat or a thin cut deli meat like Hillshire Farm Deli Select Ultra Thin. Simple ham and cheese sandwiches are perfect with a delicious spread to add a great gourmet flavor. I like to make a simple chipotle sauce or even a simple olive tapenade. I know it sounds fancy, but it’s so easy to make and my kids love it.
Sandwich needs:
- Sara Lee Soft & Smooth Whole Grain White or Sara Lee Hearty and Delicious wheat bread
- deli meat and cheese of choice
- cookie cutters
- sauces such as mustard, low fat blue cheese, chipotle or olive tapenade
Directions for sauces
Olive Tapenade Sauce
- 20 pitted Kalamata olives, coarsely chopped
- 1 Tbsp rinsed, drained, and chopped capers
- 1 tsp fresh lemon juice
- 2 tsp olive oil
- fresh cracked black pepper.
In small bowl, mix ingredients until a nice paste and chill.
Chipotle Sauce
- 1/2 cup fat free plain yogurt
- 1/2 cup low fat mayonnaise
- 2 teaspoons pureed chipotle/adobo peppers (in can)
In a small bowl, mix together the yogurt, mayonnaise, and chipotle peppers until smooth. Chill until serving.
Veggie Roll-Ups: I love this one. It’s so easy ... I simply take a whole wheat tortilla and wrap celery stalk, carrots and cucumber inside with a little peanut butter and roll it up. Then, I cut it into sections and it looks almost like sushi. My kids can just grab a piece when they need a little treat and it offers a little protein to keep them going. I also like to take this concept and change it up using whole grain white bread and some peanut butter and bananas.
Ingredients
Veggie Roll-ups
- Whole grain tortillas
- Carrots, cut into thin slices
- Cucumber, cut into thin slices
- Celery, cut into thin slices
- All-natural peanut butter
Thinly slice veggies into 5-inch long strings, spread peanut better inside tortilla, lay veggies down on peanut butter and roll tortilla tightly. Cut into one-inch sections and secure with a toothpick if needed. Keep chilled.
Banana/Peanut Butter Roll-ups
- Sara Lee Soft & Smooth Whole Grain White bread, cut crust off
- Peanut butter
- Bananas sliced into thin pieces
Cut crust off bread. Using only one slice, spread peanut butter, add banana and roll bread. Cut into small sections and serve.
Low-fat turkey hot dogs: I like to bring along Ball Park Fat Free Franks to the games with me as a healthier alternative to the concession hot dogs. These dogs are tasty, have less fat and are easy to carry. I simply cook fat-free turkey hot dogs in boiling water, place into a wide mouth thermos, pack the buns in foil wrap, and bring packs of condiments for the kids.
Baked Chicken Fingers: I like to bread my own Buffalo-style chicken breast “fingers” in egg whites and low-carbohydrate bread crumbs. I bake them in the oven and then place them in a thermos to keep warm until we’re ready to eat. I like dipping them in any leftover low-fat blue cheese dressing that I don’t use for the sandwiches.
Ingredients
- Chicken breasts
- Flour
- Egg Whites
- Low Carb Bread Crumbs
- Pam
Directions
Cut chicken breasts into strips. Drudge each chicken strip in the flour, and then dip into egg whites followed by breadcrumbs. Spray each strip with Pam and put in oven.
Storage recommendations
Nissan Thermos 1.5-quart vacuum food tote: A stainless steel thermos with four smaller vacuum-sealed thermal containers. This is great when packing toppings for hot dogs, such as low-fat cheese sauce, chili, cold dressing, etc.
Coleman 1-gallon thermos: Heat your hot dogs, pour the hot dogs and the hot water into the thermos. Wrap the hot dog rolls in freezer bags and store on top of the hot dogs in the thermos. Keep standing upright and enjoy steaming hot franks and warm buns.
California Innovations Hardbody “Cooler” fits nine cans as well as a plethora of hot and/or cold sandwiches, toppings, or side dishes.
Have fun at the game and feel free to visit saraleefoods.com for more great recipes, tips and meal suggestions from the pros.