Slashing calories at your game day celebration

Here in St. Louis we're gearing up for Game One of the World Series tonight! And since football season is already in full swing, not only do St. Louisans have their minds on the game, but so do other sports fans around the nation. Watching your favorite team just wouldn't be the same without the tailgating fun that surrounds it--but these celebrations typically include high-calorie, diet-blowing snacks. Never fear! You can enjoy the fun and fill your gaming crowds' bellies with some healthier game day options without blowing your diet plan. Build your menu from some of the following selections to include delicious, healthy ingredients while slashing calories (and don't worry--nobody will know!):

• White chicken chili with jalapeno cornbread
• Turkey sliders (mini burgers made with ground turkey breast)
• BBQ pork tenderloin sliders (cook the pork in a crockpot, then shred with a fork)
• Mini roast beef sandwiches served with spicy mustard and horseradish sauce
• Boneless wings (oven-baked chicken tenderloins: dip in low-fat buttermilk and roll in bread crumbs, then bake) served with choice of sauces and celery sticks
• Layered bean dip with baked tortilla chip "scoops"
• Veggie platter with low-fat salad dressing and hummus
• Tomato, basil, and marinated mozzarella bites on a toothpick
• Caramel apple bites (slice apples and drizzle with lemon juice to prevent browning, serve with caramel dip)
• Chocolate-dipped pretzel sticks and chocolate-covered raisins (easy to make by melting chocolate in the microwave on low)

Do you have other healthy game-day crowd-pleasers that you like to serve? Please share by posting a comment.

And oh yeah...GO CARDS!!