Shanthi Appelö is a registered dietitian and health and wellness spokesperson for Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan based in Detroit. Passionate about the science of nutrition and behavior, Shanthi has experience working in clinical nutrition, public health and teaching in the university setting. She earned her Master of Science in Public Health Nutrition from the University of Tennessee and has a research background in maternal and child health nutrition and public health, as well as a Certificate of Training in Obesity Interventions from the Commission on Dietetic Registration. In her free time, she enjoys experimenting in the kitchen, exploring the outdoors, working on art and spending time with family.
3 Healthy Big Game Recipes
2 min read
The Big Game is a time for football, friends, family and, of course, food. According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, the Big Game day is America’s second largest food consumption day after Thanksgiving. Popular dishes include wings, chips and dips - the latter being a particular Midwest favorite. An analysis of search volume data from 2023 and 2024 tells us buffalo chicken dip is top of Michiganders minds for appetizers.
Among the sea of calorically dense dishes, it’s a good idea to pack in some plates with health value. Try making sure food and drinks like cut vegetables, fruits, mocktails and water are front and center to make the healthy choice the easy choice.
These chocolate-covered strawberries are a healthier alternative to candy or baked sweets, offering antioxidants and fiber from both the strawberries and dark chocolate along with a vitamin C punch. For these football themed bites, first dip the strawberries in dark chocolate. Then, once the chocolate has hardened, pipe white chocolate for the football lacing on top.
1st Down Dip
This football field dip is a festive and themed way to serve up healthy fats and a generous dose of heart healthy fiber from avocados. Here’s how to do it:
- Create the football turf in a rectangular serving dish using guacamole made with ripe avocados, chopped cilantro, minced garlic, lime juice, red pepper flakes and salt.
- Create end zones with pico de gallo or salsa on one end and shredded lettuce or cheese on the other.
- Create lines down the field by piping light sour cream.
- Halve olives to represent football players down the field.
Wings are a Big Game staple. In fact, the National Chicken Council estimates Americans eat 1.45 billion chicken wings during the special night - that’s enough for every person in the country to eat four wings each. The traditional deep-frying process adds excess calories and fat, so it’s a good idea to add some baked wings to the mix. Baking them allows for that crispy texture without the extra oil. Sumac has a unique tangy citrus flavor with a beautiful deep red hue.
