Strained yogurt dips

As football season begins, millions will plop in front of their plasmas with piles of chips 'n dip, pizza, soda and of course, cold beer. While it may be tough to forgo cheesy pizza, maybe leather ball fans would consider one simple change to reduce calories/fat and add fiber/vitamins. Namely, strained yogurt dips.

Dump the sour cream 'n onion and gooey mexican cheese dips for a platter of healthy yogurt dip with fresh veggies instead. It's easy to strain yogurt and stir in flavorful extras -- here's the recipe:

• Line a strainer with two layers of cheesecloth, set over a bowl.
• Place 2 cups of low-fat yogurt on top of the cheesecloth, put in fridge (four hours or longer is ideal).
• Transfer strained yogurt into a covered container and refrigerate until game time.
• At kick-off, stir with mix-ins of your choice.
  

Yummy mix-ins include mashed garlic cloves with a little salt, diced dried fruit, chopped onion and garlic powder, chopped fresh herbs, toasted seeds or any spice combination you love -- be creative! Skip the chips and serve with cut veggies.