Healthy Game Day Snacks

My wife, Stacey, and I make an effort to cook clean at home for our family. It’s important for us to share with others the benefits of nutrition. Here are some of our family’s favorites.

I hope you enjoy these easy and healthy snacks with your family and friends on Super Bowl Sunday.

Mini Turkey Meatballs

• 1 small onion, grated
• 3 garlic cloves, minced
• l large egg
• 1/4 cup dried bread crumbs (optional)
• 3 tablespoons ketchup
• 1/4 cup chopped fresh Italian parsley leaves
• 1/4 cup grated Parmesan or 1/4 cup grated Pecorino Romano
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper
• 1 pound ground Turkey meat
• 3 tablespoons olive oil
• 26 ounces Simple Tomato Sauce, recipe follows:

Simple Tomato Sauce:

• 1/2 cup extra-virgin olive oil
• 1 small onion, chopped
• 2 cloves garlic, chopped
• 1 stalk celery, chopped
• 1 carrot, chopped
• Sea salt and freshly ground black pepper
• 2 (32-ounce) cans crushed tomatoes
• 4 to 6 basil leaves
• 2 dried bay leaves

Add the onion, garlic, egg, bread crumbs, ketchup, parsley, Parmesan, Pecorino, salt and pepper to a large bowl and blend. Mix in the turkey. Shape the turkey mixture into 1 1/4-inchdiameter meatballs. Place on a large plate or baking sheet. Heat the oil in a heavy large frying pan over medium-high heat. Add the meatballs and sauté until browned on all sides, about 5 minutes. Tum off heat. Transfer the meatballs to a plate. Pour off any excess oil. Add the marinara sauce, about 3 cups. Return all the meatballs to the pan. Tum the heat to medium-low and simmer until the sauce thickens slightly and the flavors blend, 15 to 20 minutes. Season the sauce, to taste, with salt and pepper. Transfer the meatball mixture to a serving bowl. Serve with toothpicks.

Spring Rolls

• 3 large lettuce leaves or butter lettuce tom into strips
• 1 cucumber, sliced into thin strips
• 1/2 cup shredded zucchini
• 2 green onions, chopped
• 1 carrot, grated
• 1 cup cooked rice vermicelli or bean thread noodles 2 Thsp fresh cilantro
• 2 Thsp fresh basil
• 1 cup water
• May add chopped or ground chicken or shrimp.
• 6-8 spring roll wrappers

Combine all the ingredients except water, some cilantro and basil leaves, and spring roll wrappers in a large bowl and toss well. Place water in a shallow pan. Dip spring roll wrappers in water until pliable, 1 at a time. Fill each wrapper with 2-3 Tbsp of filling. Place 2 or 3 basil and cilantro leaves on top and roll up.