Veggie Fries with Creamy Dip Recipe

So, who are you rooting for on Super Bowl Sunday? If you’re anything like me, you really don’t care who wins – it’s all about the food!  But, just because a posse of rowdy, hungry fans has gathered in your den, doesn’t mean that all caution should be thrown to the wind when it comes to nutrition. After all, didn’t you just make a few health and wellness resolutions about a month back?

Don’t fret; you can keep on track by recruiting a variety of healthy yet tasty snacks for your game day roster. Take a pass on fat-laden and super salty packaged chips and take-out food. Instead make a playbook with your own lightened versions of Super Bowl snacks. It’s easy to roll out your own pizza dough and top it with fresh produces and minimal cheese or set out cut-up veggies in individual cups with a of dollop of dip at the bottom. Really almost any snack can be “healthy swapped” for the better.

I’ve noticed that chips served with dip or a plate of cheesy chile fries are pretty much a required course at most sports spectating events. I’ve “healthified” the football snacking experience by making a baked-and-better-for-you appetizer – “Rah-Rah” Root Veggie Fries with Creamy Dip. Carrots, parsnips and beets have been cut into long strips, dipped in an egg white wash (for added crispness) and tossed into a mix of panko bread crumbs and Freeze Dried Parsley.  I’ve left the dipping selection to you because Litehouse has so many delicious dips!

So why are root vegetables so healthy? The edible part of these veggies grow underneath the soil where they soak in generous amounts of minerals, vitamins and other vital nutrients; the above-ground leaves absorb and pass on nutrients as well. Most root vegetables are high in complex carbohydrates (the good kind, not the sugary processed kind) which are converted into energy through the blood stream and used to power our brains and bodies. Studies have linked root vegetables to numerous other health benefits.

For example, beets have been associated with lower cholesterol and improved cardiovascular health –some studies even say beet juice can help endurance athletes perform better! Moms around the world were right when said “eat your carrots, they’re good for your eyes.” In addition to vision-boosting vitamin A, carrots are rich in beta-carotene which may ward off a variety of cancers. Parsnips, a close cousin to carrots, have high levels of soluble dietary fiber which is excellent for digestive health and the reduction of diabetes and heart disease risk. So, there you go! You can eat your fries and feel good doing so thanks to this healthy Super Bowl recipe! And, regardless of who wins the game, you’ll score big points from fellow fans who will love the taste and appreciate your concern for their well-being. Enjoy!