Super Bowl Snacks: Healthy Eats for the Big Game!

Avid football fan or not, I'm going to bet you have a Super Bowl Party to attend this weekend. And let's be honest, unless you are a fan of the two teams playing, this Sunday is much more a gathering for good food, ranking your favorite commercials during the Super Bowl and of course, watching the Halftime Performance. 

Worried about how you are going to stay on track with healthy alternatives during Gametime? Fear not, My Engineered Nutrition is to the rescue! I've gather my FAVORITE healthy recipes perfect for watching Big Game. You'll be a hit at your Super Bowl Party if you bring one of these dishes...and no one will be the wiser that it's healthy!

APPETIZERS

Brussels Sprout Chips

Baked Sweet Potato Chips

Buffalo Chicken Nachos

Gametime Guacamole

Avocado Lime Dressing

MAINS

Buffalo Chili

Creamy Chicken Tortilla Soup

Bison Sliders

BBQ Chicken Pizza on Cauliflower Crust

Slow Cooker Carnitas

Rosemary Balsamic Pork Tenderloin

Yum

It's (unofficially) crock pot season! Warm, slow cooked meals are almost necessary when it gets dark and chilly by 7pm. Add to that a meal that takes minimal effort and you've got yourself a staple dinner in your meal planning rotation for this Fall and Winter!

If you loved my Slow Cooker Carnitas as much as I do, then you are in for a treat with this Rosemary Balsamic Tenderloin. Normally with lean cuts of meat you can't cook them too long or you run the risk of drying out the meat. This crock pot recipe completely voids that rule. You are left with a pork tenderloin that is so incredibly tender it shreds with only the touch of a fork. 

Dig in! 

Rosemary Balsamic Pork Tenderloin

Prep Time: 15 minutes

Cook Time: 6-8 hours

Servings: 6

Ingredients:

• 1 tbsp coconut oil
• 1.5 lb pork tenderloin
• 1 medium onion, sliced into rings
• 1/4 cup apple cider vinegar
• 1/4 cup balsamic vinegar
• 4 cloves garlic, minced
• 1 tbsp rosemary, fresh, chopped
• 1 tbsp thyme, fresh, chopped
• 1 cup chicken bone broth
• Salt and Pepper

*You will also need a crock pot for this recipe. 

Directions:

1. Generously salt and pepper pork loin on all sides and set aside. Chop onions and layer them in bottom of crockpot. 
2. In a large skillet over medium heat, melt coconut oil. Sear pork tenderloin on all sides to create a crust. Once all sides have been seared (about 10 minutes) transfer tenderloin to crockpot, placing on top of onions. Pour bone broth into skillet to de-glaze, scrapping up any delicious pieces that were left in the pan.  Carefully pour the broth into bottom of crockpot around the pork tenderloin, but not directly over the meat.
3. Mix apple cider vinegar, balsamic vinegar and garlic together and then pour mixture over tenderloin. Lastly, sprinkle the fresh rosemary and thyme over pork and onions. 
4. Place lid on crockpot and set heat to low. Cook for 6-8 hours, until tenderloin is tender and can easily be pulled apart with a fork. Once cooked, shred tenderloin within crockpot, mixing with onions and drippings. 

Nutritional Information (1 serving - approximately 7.25 oz cooked)

210 calories - 30 g Protein, 5.5 g Carbohydrates, 7.5 g Fat

Cilantro Lime Chicken

I'm back this week with yet another slow cooker recipe, hoping to make your weekday meal planning that much easier! I posted a photo on my Instagram last week of some chicken nachos I made with this Cilantro Lime Chicken and it was so tasty and only took me 10 minutes to throw together for dinner. Like I said last week with my Slow Cooker Carnitas, Crock Pot meals are SUCH a time saver for me during the week. 

The basic recipe of the Cilantro Lime Chicken does not differ much from the Carnitas. The end product is just as versatile as well. I love having this chicken on hand to throw on a salad, toss on top of nachos, to fill tacos, or even just eat on its own. 

I bring my lunch to work every single day. Mostly because I refuse to spend $15 on a salad, but also because I like to know exactly what I'm eating and ensure it is a healthy choice. I can't tell you how many times people have told me they could never plan as well as me or don't have the time to make lunches. Here is my secret: I don't have time either (shhh) so I make sure I have quick and easy options on hand at ALL times. It isn't rocket science! Crock pot meals take ZERO effort and can cook overnight. I mean come on, how much easier does it get?! No excuses!

Cilantro Lime Chicken

Prep Time: 15 minutes

Cook Time: 6-8 hours

Servings: 6 (1 serving = 4 oz)

Ingredients

• 2 lb Organic Boneless Skinless Chicken Breast
• 1 1/2 tsp garlic, chopped
• 1/2 tsp lime zest
• 2 limes, juiced (about 1/4 cup)
• 1/2 cup Chicken Stock
• 1 cup cilantro, chopped
• Spice Blend
  • 1 tsp oregano
  • 1 tsp coriander
  • 1 tsp onion powder
  • 1/2 tsp sea salt

Directions

1. Mix together spices in Spice Blend and set aside. Cut the chicken breast into smaller cubes (I aim for 3 pieces per breast). Toss the chicken with the spice blend to evenly coat all sides of the meat. Create a paste from the garlic and lime zest and next coat chicken with paste. 
2. Transfer the chicken to a Crock Pot and slowly pour the chicken stock and lime juice around the perimeter of the bowl. Try not to pour directly onto the meat - we don't want to rinse away the spices!
3. Cook on low for 6-8 hours. Transfer chicken to a bowl and easily shred with a fork. Toss with chopped cilantro and serve. 

Nutritional info (1 serving = 4 oz cooked chicken)

145 Calories - 30 g Protein, 1 g Carbs, 2.4 g Fat

Slow Cooker Carnitas

This is one of my go-to dishes that I love making. Truthfully, I've made this for the past 4 weeks in a row but who is going to stop me?? There is nothing easier than putting a roast of some sort in your crock pot, turning it on low and walking away. Come back 10 hours later and you have the most tender meat with hardly even any effort. This can be eaten for lunch or dinner and saves so much time during the week when I'm prepping my meals for the following day. 

If you follow my blog regularly, I'm sure you have started noticing a theme. I don't like to spend a lot of time in the kitchen during the week. Between work, working out and social activities I am always busy. I need simple, efficient and delicious. This pork is SO tasty and SO tender it falls apart with hardly even touching it with a fork. 

Remember that Rosemary Pork Roast I made a while back? I'm using the same lean pork roast again in this recipe. This makes a good sized batch of shredded pork so that you can eat this for a few meals. The thing I love about this pork is that it is so versatile. Throw it on a salad for lunch, serve it up in some taco shells for dinner, warm it up and slather it in my Avocado Lime Dressing - really the possibilities are endless! 

Slow Cooker Carnitas

Prep Time: 10 minutes

Cook Time: 8-10 hours

Servings: 6 (1 serving = 4 oz)

Ingredients

• 2 lb Pork Sirloin Tip Roast
• 1 cup Chicken Stock
• Mexican Spice Blend
  • 1 tsp paprika
  • 1 tsp cumin
  • 1 tsp chili powder
  • 1 tsp oregano
  • 1/2 tsp garlic powder
  • 1/2 tsp onion powder
  • 1/2 tsp sea salt

Directions

1. Mix together spices in Mexican Spice Blend and set aside. Cut the pork roast into smaller pieces (I aim for 6 pieces or so). Toss the pork with the spice blend to even coat all sides of the meat. 
2. Transfer the pork to a Crock Pot and slowly pour the chicken stock around the perimeter of the bowl. Try not to pour directly onto the meat - we don't want to rinse away the spices!
3. Cook on low for 8-10 hours. Transfer pork to a cutting board or bowl and easily shred with a fork. You can save the liquid and heat up to serve poured over the pork. I like to save the liquid and use a little with the pork when I reheat the meat as the week goes on.

Eat on its own, over a salad, on a sandwich, in a taco...get creative!

Nutritional info (1 serving = 4 oz cooked pork carnitas)

140 Calories - 30 g Protein, 0 g Carbs, 2 g Fat