Next Sunday is Super Bowl XLII and whether you are rooting for the New York Giants (YAY!!) or the New England Patriots (BOO!!!) I bet you are definitely going to watch the big game. Here are some great ideas for entertaining…

Crudités and Hummus
Instead of just serving regular hummus buy a bunch of different types and serve with vegetables like baby carrots, celery, bell peppers and cherry tomatoes. Roasted Red Pepper hummus, Roasted Garlic hummus and Sun Dried Tomato hummus are all great and the variety will satisfy everyone.

Edamame
Edamame is a great snack on its own. You can buy it frozen in its shells, steam them in the microwave and then serve in little bowls with some sea salt. Another idea is to buy shelled edamame, cook them in boiling water for 5 minutes and then throw them in the food processor for a few minutes. Substitute this mixture into your favorite guacamole recipe for half the avocado and cut down on your fat intake.

Baked Pita Chips
Buy some large whole wheat pitas and cut them into eighths. Throw them in a bowl and toss with olive oil, cumin, garlic powder, salt and pepper. Spread them out evenly on a baking sheet and place in a 400 degree oven for 10-15 minutes or until browned and crispy. These can be served along with the hummus or edamame guacamole and you can vary the recipe by using different seasonings.

Vegetarian Chili
Instead of a heavy beef chili served with sour cream, cheddar cheese and tortilla chips swap your recipe for a lighter vegetarian chili that is packed with hearty beans and obviously lots of fiber. Serve it with some of your home made pita chips and dollop of low fat Greek yogurt.

Pizza
Lose the number to your local pizzeria and instead make your own pies!! Use whole pizza dough which can be purchased at most stores now and top it with marinara sauce, part skim mozzarella and vegetables of your choice. Some of my favorite combinations are spinach and tomato or peppers, mushrooms and onions but experiment with your own ideas.

Beverages
Everyone loves a cold beer while watching football but the old standbys like Budweiser and Sam Adams are so heavy and full of calories. Many companies offer lighter versions so try some out. I personally love Corona Light with a lime, Amstel Light instead of Heineken and Beck’s Premier Light which is only 64 calories.

Well I hope you try out some of my suggestions and are excited for the game. Go Giants!