It’s September – school has started, fall is just around the corner, and the football crowd is gearing up for weekend showdowns. This means that football parties are in full swing, and so is the football fare. Over this past weekend, I attended a party to watch two local college rivals battle it out, but the real battle was between me and the snack table! If you’re like me, you want to be social, but have a hard time staying away from the large quantities of buffalo wings, chips and dip, sausages, pizza, cookies, beer, and other calorie-laden football fare.

Rooting for your favorite team doesn’t have to mean overeating fatty snacks. Plan ahead and follow a few simple tricks to satisfy the crowd while staying on track. First, eat a small, filling meal ahead of time so that you aren’t ravenous during the game. Second, bring a dish to the party, and make it a lighter version of a football favorite or a simple snack tray loaded with filling choices. Finally, if you bring a snack, strategically place it nearby so that you reach for your snack instead of the fattier football fare.

For an easy, pleasing dish, try making a tasty fruit plate. Cut pears are a great base, and easily pair with a light fruit dip or cheese and crackers. For the game, I brought a snack tray loaded with multi-grain crackers, warmed brie, cool goat cheese, and sliced pears. I placed the tray on the coffee table in front of the television, so that I could reach for my delicious snack rather than the fattier choices on the buffet table. It was delicious, the crowd was pleased, and by half-time the tray was empty!