Super Bowl LVII fever is in the air. Whether you are a Kansas City Chiefs or Philadelphia Eagles fan, everyone will be huddling around the TV tomorrow to watch the game or tune into the commercials. Either way, you will be munching on goodies throughout the day. While we won’t be strategizing the big plays for the teams, we can certainly make healthy food and beverage choices for our family and friends who will will arrive at parties with loads of team spirit and hearty appetites! Super Bowl parties can mean BIG calories from hours of munching (and drinking) so here are some ideas that will keep your eyes on game and not on your waistline.
Your Starting Line
Whether you are hosting, or bringing goodies, have some fun with team colors. For appetizers, tomato-based salsas or guacamole will match the colors of the team; green for the Eagles and red for Kansas. Veggie sticks with hummus or red or black bean dip; yogurt-based tzatziki with toasted pita chips; pretzel rods with a tangy peanut dipping sauce; or seasoned popcorn all make for healthy snack options. My favorite snack these days is HIPPEAS snacks made from chickpeas! (https://hippeas.com). Move over, unhealthy cheese puffs!
Put Some Kick in the Kickoff
It kind of stands to reason that you will be serving Philadelphia cheesesteak at your party, right? Aka “Philly Cheesesteak,” this classic sandwich is made with thinly sliced (ribeye or top round) steak that’s smothered in caramelized onion and topped with melted provolone cheese (or Cheez Whiz) and served in a sub or hoagie roll. You can also toss in some sautéed mushrooms and bell peppers. The layout of the sandwich can be simplified. Prepare all of the ingredients ahead of time and line them up for your guests to assemble on their own.
Slow cooked, pulled BBQ pork is always a fan favorite that can simmer in a crockpot for hours. Serve with whole wheat tortillas or taco shells along with a variety of stuffers like low-fat shredded cheese, chopped lettuce, salsa, guacamole, sliced avocado, diced tomatoes, and jalapenos.
For the Bills fans, you can still honor the great season your team had by offering some Buffalo style chicken recipes or dip!
Nothing says football better than a crock of hearty chili. Score big when you serve your guests a healthier version of this fan favorite without them knowing about the switch. Ground turkey makes for a delish, low-fat chili. Top it with low-fat, shredded Pepper Jack cheese for an extra kick.
Take a Thirst Time Out
Make sure you drink sensibly as there will likely be no shortage of alcoholic beverages on hand. Try to rotate with a variety of non-alcoholic options to stay hydrated and keep the calories in check.
Touchdown Desserts
There will be a lot of pacing up and down the dessert table as the game is going on. Guests will enjoy munching on some oatmeal raisin cookies or oatmeal energy bars (https://www.allrecipes.com/recipe/241170/oatmeal-energy-bars); mini granola bars (Kind or Larabars); or an assortment of fruits. I also suggest offering a variety of dark chocolate squares for a heart-healthy meal finale.
Keep Moving Toward the End Zone
Don’t make the day all about lounging in the recliner or big sofa! Keep moving. You can always DVR the half-time show and toss the pigskin around the back yard with friends?
Game On!
You're ready for the coin toss. Enjoy the game!
In Good Health,
Sophie
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