Girlfriends, giggles and gossip — guilt free?
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As the days start to get longer and spring break is around the corner, it’s time to start coming out of your winter hibernation, and nothing is more energizing than a quality girls night in with some of your faves!
However, as much as we love a good girlfriends night, it often leaves us with a food and/or wine hangover. Fear not! I have tried many things when it comes to “skinny swaps” and have picked two favorites. They are perfect opposites and go amazingly well together — without the guilt (or the lengthy prep)! One of the secrets? Popchips!
So, why only one drink and one snack option? If you’re hosting, make it easy on yourself. The key is getting together with your friends. You don’t always have to make it a big, formal undertaking. If you’ve offered to host, have your friends each bring their own favorite snack or drink if they prefer something different.
Otherwise, let these two staples be the guilt-free staples, and you can’t go wrong!
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The snack: three-ingredient healthy nachos
These are crazy good. You don’t even have to tell anyone they’re way lower in calories, just go ahead and dig in! Ready to try it?
Ingredients:
- Original potato Popchips
- Your favorite salsa
- 1/2 cup goat or feta cheese, or to taste
Optional toppings:
- Chopped black olives
- Chopped tomatoes
- Chives
Directions:
Arrange Popchips on platter as desired. Use a spoon to sprinkle on salsa and cheese (and any of the other toppings you desire), creating as many layers as you wish — just keep layering the Popchips, salsa and cheese. Bake at 350 for about 10 minutes, until cheese is melted.
Note: These crispy chips are a really perfect swap to traditional tortilla chips — and a lot healthier! You can make this platter using plain Popchips, or try any of the flavors. I love the sour cream and onion flavor! I also really loved my toppings combo — sweet, spicy and cheesy — perfect game food or anytime munchie!
The sip: Popping Prosecco
If you like champagne, prosecco is the Italian version — but slightly sweeter tasting and slightly less expensive. It’s also lower in alcohol and calories than regular wine. Since it’s already bubbly, I top the last third of the glass with sparkling water or club soda. This way you stay hydrated, your drink lasts longer, and you save about 50 calories per glass of a normal white or red. It’s a total win!
So try it, and let me know what you think! Have more ideas for healthy swaps (that don’t mean ‘swapping out taste’)? Let me know in the comments below — I’m always looking for new ideas!
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Amanda Russell is a top-rated fitness and lifestyle writer, professional keynote speaker, Olympic-trained athlete, model, spokeswoman, founder of fitstrongandsexy.com and one of the industry’s leading experts on fitness, wellness and change. She hosts and executive produces the online fitness series Fit Strong and Sexy. To watch Russell’s show, visit youtube.com/AmandaRussell.
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