HEALTHIER BAR SNACKS FOR TELLY EVENTS

HOW TO CHEAT WITH BAR SNACKS 

Eating for health and graceful aging does not mean restricting yourself to carrot and celery sticks during telly events. But it is good to acknowledge how damaging bar snacks can be. 

MINIMIZING DAMAGE FROM BAR SNACKS FOR TELLY EVENTS 

• NUTS.  Ideally make your own by roasting raw nuts lightly sprayed with olive oil in a 180C/350F/gas 4 preheated oven.  Spread them out as best you can and bake for no more than 5 minutes.  Salt lightly; add finely minced fresh, or dried, rosemary or smoked paprika. 

• PACKAGED NUTS  Shake them in a strainer to remove excess salt and/or rub with a paper napkin to reduce oil.    

• CRISPS  Try low-salt, fat-reduced.  One of our favorite English food halls does a lentil based crisp which may not convince your kids but, with a creamy low-fat dip, makes a reasonable substitute

• CHIPS.  Crispy sweet potatoes wedges are as good as fries with more food value.  Cut 3 sweet potatoes in half lengthwise, then each half into three long wedges.  Place in a bowl and pour over a scant tablespoon of olive oil.  Toss.  Bake on a tray lined with greaseproof paper for 45 minutes to an hour until crisp and brown, turning once halfway through.  Sprinkle lightly with salt and a 1/2 tablespoon of cajun seasoning. 

• SPARE RIBS. To reduce fat, before roasting and basting with sauce, drop ribs into boiling water with two onions and a couple of cloves of garlic.  Boil for 5 minutes; reduce heat to medium and simmer for 30 -45 minutes or until tender.  Proceed as normal.

• SAUSAGES.  Pierce with a fork several times.  Drop into boiling water; reduce heat and simmer for 10 minutes.  Bake on a roasting tray in a pan so sausages do not sit in the fat that is released.  To make up for the slightly drier texture,  serve with no-sugar relish (recipe below).  

• HOT DOGS.  Try vegetarian dogs.  Quorn and middle Eastern versions are lighter but similar in texture to hot dogs.  Check before you buy; some brands are quite bready.  

B Lee/Bright Sun Enterprises accept no liability for the consequences of any actions taken on the basis of the information provided.  These recipes have been developed by B Lee/ Bright Sun Enterprises and may not be reproduced, in any form, without the author's written permission.