There is a good amount of madness in March.

Typically, during game-watching parties we reach for high-fat foods.  Chips, dips, fried chicken wings and many other popular game eats can pack a lot of calories.

One rule of thumb to help you score a lot of points is to shoot for healthy fats. Foods like nuts and avocados contain unsaturated fats, which have been linked to helping lower LDL cholesterol levels.

Here are a few ideas to help you incorporate these nutritionally-packed foods:

•Fastbreak Trail Mix: Put out bowls of dried fruit, Kashi Heart to Heart Cereal, dark chocolate pieces and an assortment of nuts for your guest.  Encourage guests to make their own trail mix.

•Rockin’ Guac: Check out this website for an awesome guacamole recipe: avocadosfrommexico.com.  Serve with carrots or pretzel thins for a great snack.

Another way to score is to choose foods packed with antioxidants.  Fruits, vegetables and beans are all great examples. Antioxidants help prevent oxidation of our cells by unwanted free radicals.

These free radicals may cause damage to our cells which may lead to increased aging, disease and/or cancer. A diet rich in antioxidants may help to prevent damage caused by free radicals.  Here are a few ideas to boost antioxidant foods during the game:

•Chocolate Breakaways: Skewer cubed fruit and drizzle with dark chocolate.

•Half Court Hummus: Choose hummus as a healthier alternative to high-fat dips.  Dip vegetables of all colors for multiple health benefits.  Most yellow and orange vegetables contain beta-carotene, which is great for eye health!

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Tomato and Avocado Bruschetta

• Serves 24

What you need

• 24 slices bruschetta bread
• 2 large tomatoes, seeded and chopped into small pieces
• 1 small diced hass avocado
• 1/3 cup olive oil
• 2 tablespoons minced basil
• 1 tablespoon balsamic vinegar
• Salt and pepper to taste

What you do

1. In a bowl, combine the tomato, avocado, and basil. Add the oil, vinegar, salt and pepper to taste. Mix well and serve over slices of bruschetta.

Source: AvocadosFromMexico.com

This information is not intended as medical advice. Please consult a medical professional for individual advice.