A Healthy and Delicious Game Plan for Your Superbowl

Are you trying to stick to a New Year’s Resolution to eat well and stay healthy? Do you worry that your efforts will be sabotaged by your Superbowl party snacking? Keep reading for tips and strategies for throwing a Superbowl party packed with snacks and dishes that are both healthy and delicious!

Superbowl Statistics:

In 2012, 172.5 million people watched the Superbowl around the world.

In the United States, the Superbowl is second only to Thanksgiving as the largest eating day of the year.

Chicken wings, pizza, and chips are the most frequently eaten snacks during the Superbowl.

Approximately 1.2 billion chicken wings will be eaten during the Superbowl.

11.2 million pounds of potato chips were eaten during the 2012 Superbowl.

It is estimated that 4 million pizzas will be sold during the Superbowl from pizza chain restaurants. In addition, many Americans enjoy frozen or homemade pizza as part of their Superbowl spread.

The average American will spend about $70 on Superbowl party snacks.

Most Americans will eat enough calories for a whole day’s worth of meals during the Superbowl.

With so many of us consuming a massive amount of calories during the big game, it is no wonder that we experience post-game “food-comas”, indigestion, and blood sugar spikes. Enjoying a plateful of healthy Superbowl snacks will keep you feeling satisfied and energized, without sabotaging your weight-loss goals.

Tips for Serving a Healthy Superbowl Spread:

Ask guests to bring their favorite healthy snack. If you are concerned that a guest will not bring a healthy dish, ask them to bring a specific fresh fruit or vegetable for the fresh fruit and vegetable platters.

Watch the game in one room and set up the buffet in another. If space allows, lay out your buffet on the kitchen counter and watch the game in a different area. You are less likely to continue snacking after you are full if they buffet is out of sight.

Lay out your buffet in stages. For the first half of the game, fill your buffet with fresh fruits and vegetables and then serve warm items, such as barbecue chicken tenders, chili, soup, and nachos, during the second half. You and your guests will fill up on the healthier fresh fruits and vegetables during the first half and enjoy sensible portions of higher-calorie dishes during the second half.

Offer dessert -size plates and bowls for your guests to fill on the buffet instead of dinner-sized plates and bowls. This will encourage you and your guests to enjoy smaller portions.

Do not serve too much food. Think about serving enough food for a meal for your guests.

Load up your Superbowl party buffet with plenty of fresh fruits and vegetables.

Serve dips that are made with fat-free dairy products and fat-free beans.

Serve a simple guacamole made with mashed avocado and fresh vegetables.

Instead of higher calorie dips, serve fat-free or low-calorie salad dressing with your vegetable platter.

Serve submarine sandwiches or sandwich wraps instead of hot dogs and hamburgers.

Offer guests air-popped popcorn instead of microwaved popcorn OR pop popcorn on the stove using a healthy oil instead of butter.

Put out baked chips instead of chips that have been fried.

Serve baked chicken tenders and potato wedges instead of fried chicken wings and french fries.

Offer chilis and soups that are packed with lean meat, vegetables, and beans.

For a healthy dessert, serve a greek yogurt and fresh fruit parfait or fresh fruit with a low-fat dip.

Serve individual-sized, pre-portioned desserts.

Offer your guests plenty of water instead of sugary drinks or alcohol.

Get up and move around the room during commercial breaks.

During the half-time show, go outside and play a game of touch-football, frisbee, or go for a walk.

Stop eating when you are full. Throw away your plate or put it in the sink so that you don’t keep snacking when you are not hungry.

Have a plan for any leftover snacks. Plan a meal around your leftover buffet offerings or purchase disposable storage containers to send leftovers home with your Superbowl party guests.

Superbowl Party Recipes:

Chili:

Low-Fat Healthy Chili in Crockpot

Moosewood Vegetarian Chili

Nachos:

Vegetable Nachos

Loaded Super Nachos

Superbowl Italian Flavored Pita Chips

Chili Fries:

Oven Baked Sweet Potato Fries with Chipotle Yogurt Dip

Jerry’s Guiltless Yuletide French Fries

Subsandwiches and Sandwich Wraps: