By contributor Megan Stulberg

Instead of consuming large amounts of buffalo wings and potato chips on Super Bowl Sunday, I skipped the game altogether and made this healthy snack! Traditional pesto is made with parmesan cheese but avocado is a great creamy alternative.

Ingredients:

• 1 medium avocado
• 1/2 lemon, juiced
• 1 cup spinach, washed and chopped
• 1 cup pine nuts
• 1/4 cup water
• 2 tbsp extra-virgin olive oil
• 2 tbsp nutritional yeast
• 1 tbsp basil
• 1 tsp dill
• 1 tsp ground garlic (or 2 cloves)
• Black pepper, to taste

Directions:

1. Half the avocado, remove pit, then scoop out the flesh.
2. In a high-speed blender/food processor combine avocado, spinach, nuts, water, oil, yeast and seasonings until thoroughly combined.
3. Serve immediately, or else avocado will brown!

Makes roughly 1 cup of pesto. Use as a spread on raw crackers (as pictured), as a pasta sauce, or as a dip with fresh veggies.