Healthy Fangating™ Fare

When you think of game day eats, the word “healthy” doesn’t quickly come to mind. This I know and wholeheartedly acknowledge. But when I got started in this business, it was after I had lost 60 lbs., was committed to keeping it off, but was not willing to give up my once-a-week cheat day that for me is spent tailgating or homegating, or collectively as I call it, Fangating. So I came up with new, healthier spins on game day favorites that included more nutrient-dense foods, smart substitutions, and overall healthier preparations. The three recipes that follow feature lots of yummy, nutritious veggies; Greek yogurt in lieu of sour cream; sweet potatoes in place of other kinds of potatoes (which lack the same nutrients that sweet potatoes possess); nuts and leaner proteins; and are baked instead of fried. Whether you’re spectating at (or before) a sporting event or refueling after participating yourself, these are tasty, more sensible riffs on the dishes you might have otherwise avoided.

Healthy Chipotle Chicken Potato Skins
Serves 6
Potato skins are a sportsfood staple. But I’ve got to say—and forgive me for sounding whiny—I’ve been served terrible ones so many times. Why are they so hard to make well? I think part of the problem is that, more often than not, people overcook the potatoes. And then once the potatoes get cold—yuck. Of course, I like this recipe for ’tater skins—it’s my own. But I’ve also opted to use sweet potatoes because I think they’re a bit juicier, they’ve got more flavor, and I find them less starchy. They’re also so much more nutritious than regular potatoes. Add my chipotle chicken mixture on top and you’ll hit your protein quota and enjoy every bite—you’ll need a fork and knife for these!

Directions

1. Preheat the oven to 350°F.
2. Wash the sweet potatoes, and prick them all over with a fork. Brush the skins with 2 tablespoons of the olive oil. Place in a Pyrex dish or on a baking sheet, and bake them for 50 to 60 minutes or until fork-tender.
3. Place the chicken in a baking dish, rub with 1 tablespoon of the olive oil, and season with a small dash of salt and pepper. Place the chicken in the oven alongside the potatoes, and cook for 25 to 30 minutes, until cooked through. Set aside to cool.
4. Meanwhile, combine the remaining 1⁄4 cup olive oil, lime juice, garlic, chipotle pepper, oregano, cumin, chili powder, and 1⁄2 teaspoon each of the salt and pepper in a medium bowl. Set aside.
5. Once the chicken is cool enough to handle, shred it with a fork or your fingers. Then combine it with the spinach, and keep warm.
6. Cut the sweet potatoes in half lengthwise, and let cool for 5 to 10 minutes more.
7. Increase the oven temperature to 400°F.
8. Using a spoon, scrape out the insides of the potatoes, leaving only the skin and a 1⁄4-inch layer of potato flesh. (Be careful not to tear the skins.) Return the skins to the baking dish, and brush the insides with the chipotle and herb mixture. Bake for 5 to 10 minutes or until crisp.
9. Meanwhile, add the remaining chipotle and herb mix to the spinach and chicken, tossing to combine.
10. Once the skins are done, stuff them with the chicken mixture, top with grated cheese, and bake for another 5 to 10 minutes, until the cheese has melted and the skins are hot and crisp. Serve topped with Greek yogurt, the hot sauce, if desired, and chopped cilantro.

Friendly Fangating Tip
Feel free to wilt your spinach in the microwave by putting it in a bowl with 1 teaspoon water and zapping it for 20-second intervals. I like to substitute Greek yogurt for sour cream. They taste almost exactly the same, but Greek yogurt is much healthier and lower in fat and calories.

“Fangating™” expert and celebrity cook Daina Falk, founder of the Hungry Fan®, is author of “The Hungry Fan’s® Game Day Cookbook,” which includes 165 Fangating™ recipes—including 40 that she collected from Olympians and professional athletes like LeBron James, Boomer Esiason, Michael Jordan and Andre Agassi! Daina merges sports, food and entertaining (including tailgating and homegating) to celebrate and curate game day revelry like none other. Reach her online at www.HungryFan.com.

Comments