Tasty Low-Glycemic Snacks for the Big Game
- In This Quick Guide:
- Hero Sandwiches
- Celery and Walnut Salad
- Lemon Rosemary Cheesecake Bars
Spend less time cooking for the “Big Game” party and more time enjoying your family and friends. These low-glycemic snacks free up your kitchen time, yet no one will know that your food preparation was so easy. Nor will your family and guests know that they are eating healthy, low-glycemic snacks. These foods are delicious and fit right into everyone’s favorite food preferences.
Hero Sandwiches
Sun-dried tomatoes, garlic, and olives add zing to these meat and cheese-filled hero sandwiches.
- Yield: 8 subs
- Prep time: 15 minutes
- Serving size: 1 sub
Each serving has:
228 Calories; 13g Protein; 15g Carbohydrates; 3g Fiber; 14g Fat; 5g Saturated Fat; Glycemic index: low; Glycemic load: 8
- ½ cup olive tapenade
- ¼ cup sun-dried tomatoes, drained and diced
- 1 tsp. snipped fresh thyme
- 1 tsp. minced garlic
- 4 whole-wheat hoagie buns, split lengthwise
- 8 oz. thinly sliced ham
- 4 oz. thinly sliced salami
- 4 oz. thinly sliced provolone cheese
- 1 red bell pepper, thinly sliced
- 4 lettuce leaves
- ¼ cup mayonnaise
- In a small bowl, stir together the olive tapenade, sun-dried tomatoes, thyme, and garlic.
- Hollow out the bottom and top halves of hoagies, leaving ¼ inch shells. Spoon olive mixture into bottom half of buns. Top with a layer of ham, salami, and provolone. Top with red pepper strips and lettuce. Spread underside of tops with mayonnaise.
- Cut each hoagie in half. Place a toothpick through each half. Serve.
Celery and Walnut Salad
The flavors of celery and walnuts are enhanced with basil, tomatoes, and Parmesan.
- Yield: 8 cups
- Prep time: 10 minutes
- Serving size: 1 cup
Each serving has:
98 Calories; 3g Protein; 4g Carbohydrates; 1g Fiber; 8g Fat; 1g Saturated Fat; Glycemic index: low; Glycemic load: 1
- 3 celery stalks, sliced
- 2 cups cherry tomatoes, cut in half
- 1 medium cucumber, coarsely chopped
- ¼ cup parsley, chopped
- ¼ cup fresh basil, chopped
- 3 TB. balsamic vinegar
- 3 TB. olive oil
- ¼ tsp. ground coriander
- ¼ tsp. salt
- ¼ tsp. ground black pepper
- ¼ cup Parmesan cheese, shredded or shaved
- ¼ cup walnuts, coarsely chopped
- In a large bowl, combine tomatoes, cucumbers, celery, parsley, and basil.
- In a medium-size jar, place balsamic vinegar and olive oil. Add salt, pepper, and coriander. Secure lid and shake to blend. Pour on vegetables. Toss salad.
- Sprinkle salad with Parmesan and walnuts. Serve.
Lemon Rosemary Cheesecake Bars
Rosemary brightens the tangy lemon flavor of these cheesecake bars.
- Yield: 9 squares
- Prep time: 20 minutes (plus 8 hours setting time)
- Serving size: 1 square
Each serving has:
155 Calories; 12g Protein; 16g Carbohydrates; 0g Fiber; 5g Fat; 1g Saturated Fat; Glycemic index: low; Glycemic load: 5
- 6 squares of honey graham crackers
- 2 TB. butter
- 1 box (4 serving–size) sugar-free low-calorie lemon-flavor gelatin
- ¾ cup boiling water
- 2 tsp. snipped fresh rosemary
- 1 (16-oz.) container low-fat cottage cheese (1 ¾ cups)
- 1 (8-oz.) pkg. low-fat cream cheese, softened
- 1 (8-oz.) container frozen fat-free whipped dessert topping, thawed
- In a small bowl, combine graham crackers and butter. Press mixture into the bottom of a 9-inch square baking dish. Refrigerate.
- In a large bowl, combine gelatin and water. Stir until gelatin is dissolved. Stir in rosemary.
- In blender or food processor, process cottage cheese and cream cheese until smooth. Whisk ½ cup cottage cheese mixture into gelatin mixture. Whisk in remaining cheese mixture until smooth. Fold in dessert topping.
- Spoon filling over chilled graham cracker crust. Cover and refrigerate 8 hours or more until firm. To serve, cut into 9 squares.
With these delicious, low-glycemic snacks everyone can enjoy good health while watching a great game. Enjoy!
by Lucy Beale and Julie Alles, R.D., L.D. C.L.T., authors of The Complete Idiot’s Guide to Glycemic Index Snacks
