Whether you’re a die-hard football fan or just in it when your team is winning or when it serves as a fun social outlet, Super Bowl Sunday brings a day of eating, drinking and parties. When I was growing up we ate dinner every night at the table but on Super Bowl Sunday we ordered pizza and were allowed to eat on a blanket on the living room floor. It was a big deal!

I can’t say that I keep up with NFL football on the regular these days (just college football and my Georgia Bulldogs!) but I’ve always loved Super Bowl Sunday for the opportunity to get together with friends and to watch the commercials. During my ad agency days we would always have a roundtable the day after the Super Bowl to talk about the spots.

One thing I don’t love about Super Bowl parties is how I feel afterwards. Somehow they’ve become all about over-the-top, cheese-laden, rich foods. I wish I could say that my willpower is strong enough to resist dip after cheesy dip…but it’s not!

Apparently, I’m not alone in this. The verdict is split but there is some research that suggests that for Americans Super Bowl Sunday might surpass Thanksgiving for most calories consumed in a single day.

This is no reason to skip out on the game or the snacks but maybe cause to be a little more mindful about what makes it onto the snacking spread. I visited my local ALDI to find some inspiration for healthier Super Bowl snacks and have two ideas to share with you today. Note the use of “healthier” versus “healthy.” We have to keep it a little fun!

The two snacks I came up with were sweet potato rounds topped with guacamole, cheddar and bacon and a loaded hummus plate topped with chopped veggies and feta.

Let’s talk about the sweet potato rounds first. My idea was that the sweet potatoes could serve as an alternative to chips for a healthier nacho spin. Just a few simple ingredients from ALDI went into them: sweet potatoes, Little Salad Bar Original Guacamole, SimplyNature Organic Shredded Mild Cheddar Cheese, SimplyNature Applewood Smoked Uncured Bacon (I am obsessed with this stuff), garlic powder and sea salt.

I sliced the potatoes about 1/2 inch thick and tossed them in a bowl with salt and garlic powder. I placed them on a pan lined with parchment paper and baked them at 450 degrees for about 20 minutes. I flipped them once halfway through cooking.

I fried up the bacon while the sweet potatoes were in the oven.

Healthier Super Bowl Snack Ideas: Sweet Potato Nachos and Loaded Hummus Plate

I pulled the sweet potatoes out of the oven once they were golden brown and could easily be pierced with a fork. I topped them with a dollop of guacamole, a sprinkle of cheese and crumbled bacon. I stuck them back in the oven for about two minutes so the cheese could melt.

The result? AMAZING! These are little bites of heaven. Salty and sweet from the combo of the sweet potato and bacon and the creamy guacamole put them over the top! While the cheese is really delicious, if you’re avoiding dairy you could totally skip it and not miss it.

Seriously…make these on Super Bowl Sunday. You will be the talk of the party.

My second snack idea was a hummus plate that was ready in less than five minutes. Ingredients included Little Salad Bar Hummus, Friendly Farms Crubmled Feta, tomatoes, cucumber, kalamata olives and Savoritz Multi-grain Pita Crackers.

I spread the hummus on a plate and then topped it with chopped tomatoes, cucumbers and olives and a sprinkle of feta. I lined the plate with the crackers.

You can switch out the chopped veggies according to what you like and have on hand. Some ideas are green or red peppers, banana peppers, onions, sundried tomatoes, etc. I used ALDI’s Little Salad Bar Plain Hummus but you could also use a roasted red pepper or garlic to flavor it up even more. Going for a lower carb option? Skip the crackers and serve the plate with baby carrots, celery, cucumber slices and other veggies instead.

I hope you like my two “healthier” snack ideas!

I’d love to hear what you have planned for Super Bowl Sunday. Are you attending a party? What are you making? How is your willpower when it comes to Super Bowl snacking? 

This post is sponsored by ALDI. All ingredients were purchased at ALDI but the recipes and ideas are my own. *Some of these items are Special Buy or Seasonal items that are only in stores for a limited time and may no longer be available.”