Winter Olympics is great time for ‘gold-medal’ eating

This week and next many Americans sit glued to their television sets watching the 2010 Winter Olympics. Many fans, admiring the fit, slender bodies of the athletes, will be surrounded by bowls of chips, dips and other goodies – hardly a gold-medal eating performance. Weight Watchers suggests that viewers convert their traditional television snacking to healthy eating for the duration of the Olympic Games.

“Television viewers can look at and be inspired by Olympian contenders who are examples of good health,’” said Deborah Wright, general manager at Weight Watchers of Arizona, Inc. “Aim for personal gold-medal performance. Rather than eating while watching the games, exercise instead. Schedule sit-ups, leg lifts or stationary cycling in front of the TV. Or take a break between events and go for a walk outside.”
 
Wright also offers some tips for turning Olympic-sized nibbling temptations into healthy alternatives:

Choose chips that are baked instead of fried. A serving of baked tortilla chips has far less fat and calories and tastes just as great with dips made with low-fat yogurt, light cream cheese or nonfat sour cream.

Keep high-calorie snacks out of reach. Create your own crunchy snack by mixing air-popped popcorn with small cereal squares and raisins. Or spread rice cakes with part-skim ricotta cheese and top with banana slices.

Save a piece of fruit to enjoy during the games. S-T-R-E-T-C-H your fruit snack by selecting a type that can be eaten slowly, like grapes, cherries or apple slices.

Salsa olé! Salsa is the perfect dip or topping because it packs lots of taste and nutrients, with virtually no calories and no fat.

Don’t forget dessert! Celebrate your favorite athlete’s medal-winning performance with a healthy parfait. Sweeten plain, low fat yogurt with a little vanilla or almond extract and a bit of sugar substitute to taste. Layer your favorite fruit with the yogurt mixture. Top with cinnamon, nutmeg, wheat germ or nugget-like cereal.

Guilt-Free Guacamole

24 asparagus spears, trimmed and halved
1/2 cup salsa
1 tablespoon cilantro leaves
2 garlic cloves
4 scallions, thinly sliced
 
In a large nonstick skillet, combine the asparagus and 1/2-cup water; bring to a boil. Reduce the heat and simmer, covered, until the asparagus is tender-crisp, about 5 minutes. Drain and run cold water to cool. In a blender or food processor puree the asparagus, salsa, cilantro and garlic. Add the scallions; pulse several times until chunky-smooth. Transfer to a serving bowl. Refrigerate, covered, until chilled, at least 1 hour.

Makes 6 servings. Each serving has a POINTS® value on 0 on the Weight Watchers Program. 
 
Pistachio-Popcorn Brittle

1/4 cup firmly packed light brown sugar
2 tablespoons light corn syrup
1 tablespoon plus 1 teaspoon margarine
1 tablespoon whipped butter
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
4 cups plain reduced-fat microwave-popped (94% fat free) popcorn
1/2 ounce chopped pistachio nuts
 
In 1-quart saucepan, combine all ingredients except popcorn and nuts. Cook over medium heat, stirring occasionally, until sugar is dissolved and mixture comes to a boil. Set candy thermometer in pan and continue cooking until temperature reaches 250 degrees Fahrenheit or until a drop of mixture forms a hard yet pliable ball when dropped into cold water, 3 to 4 minutes. Remove pan from heat. In medium mixing bowl, combine popcorn and nuts; add sugar mixture and stir until thoroughly combined. Let cool before serving.
 
Makes 4 servings, about 1 cup each. Each serving has a points value on 4 on the Weight Watchers Program.

(Recipes courtesy of Weight Watchers International, Inc.)

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