March Madness is here. While your favorite team competes, you’re most likely falling prey to the slew of March Madness snacks being served during viewing parties. The game-time snacks may set your health goals back, but not all hope is lost. Here are some healthy alternatives that are sure to score a 3-pointer on taste, nutrition and snack-ability.

Buffalo cauliflower bites

As a person who likes to zone out and snack while watching the game, these are perfect because after polishing off a bowl or two, I won’t feel guilty about eating so many.

This amazing and light substitute for wings has fewer calories. The best part about these little morsels, aside from the Buffalo heat, is the crunch. Pair these with blue cheese or ranch dressing, and you have a snack that will be a fan favorite.

Zucchini pizza bites

An essential snack during any game watch party is pizza — but filled with carbs, heavy cheese and oil, it may not be the best choice when you’re trying to look your best.

This easy and fast snack is sure to be eaten as quickly as it’s cooked. Great for portion control, these pizzas replace crust with zucchini, allowing you to enjoy more pizza with less guilt and bloating. My favorite part about this snack is that it’s easy on the wallet with only five ingredients.

Guacamole and salsa

This simple but overlooked snack is a great asset. It may have already been present during your snack arsenal, but if not, it’s a great substitute for chips and a sour cream-based dip.

These dips are easy to make, and can be made in bulk, allowing you to snack on even after your team competes. Simplicity and flavor make this combo a classic.

Garlic and herb hummus

Hummus is versatile, and you can make it with garlic or red pepper to help vamp up the flavor if you’re not a major fan of chickpeas. For game day, I would choose to eat these with a bag of pita chips.

Oven-baked sweet potato fries

Who doesn’t love fries? They’re easy to eat and probably the most popular snack food at any game party. You can dip them or put toppings on them, but unfortunately, they may be one of the least healthy dishes in your arsenal.

Don’t fret, though. You can swap standard potatoes for sweet potatoes. Sweet potato fries are the low-glycemic brother of normal fries.

In sum, enjoy the madness, but don’t let it ruin your dieting. Manage what you eat and you’ll be able to live your best life while enjoying some pretty amazing foods.

Taylor Lucero is an information management and technology major who is hoping to pursue a career in cybersecurity. His other passions include tasting food, sipping coffee, hugging dogs and taking the occasional power nap. He can be reached at tlucero@syr.edu.

Published on March 20, 2018 at 10:57 pm