Whether you’re into watching multi-millionaire athletes or multi-million-dollar commercials, you have to admit that it’s one of the most significant cultural events of the year.
Yeah…it’s the Super Bowl.
Regardless of your personal viewing priorities, dining decisions always take center stage. However, as delectable as the usual food options are, the last thing you want is a junk food-induced hangover.
Sounds like this is the year to give healthy super bowl snacks a try…
…and yes; all of these options are delicious and none of your Super Bowl party guests will complain.
Let’s get started with some finger foods, before moving onto to condiments, before finishing off with our entrée recommendation.
Buffalo Cauliflower Bites
It probably goes without saying that buffalo wings are the unofficial food of NFL Sundays. However, not every game day needs to involve a metric ton’s worth of wing grease.
These Buffalo Cauliflower Bites offer the same tangy and spicy flavor of wings without the grease-induced coma aftermath. They’re tasty enough that even the most die-hard wing enthusiasts won’t feel like they’ve been tricked into eating something healthy.
Best served hot, Buffalo Cauliflower Bites should be laid out right as guests arrive or just before kickoff. Pair them with a variety of cooling dips and crunchy veggies. Plan to run through multiple servings by halftime since guest will quickly realize they can grab “just one more” without regret.
Nutrition Facts
1 serving: 215 calories 7g fat (1g saturated fat) 38mg cholesterol 480mg sodium 29g carbohydrate (5g sugars, 6g fiber) 10g protein.
Ingredients (approximately 4 servings):
- 1 large head cauliflower (about 600–700 g), cut into florets
- 2 large eggs
- ½ cup whole wheat or gluten-free flour
- ½ cup buffalo sauce
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- 1 tsp garlic powder
- ½ tsp paprika
- ½ tsp salt
Preparation
- Toss cauliflower in eggs; coat with flour and seasoning
- Bake until crisp, then toss with warm buffalo sauce and oil
- Allow to briefly set in oven
Hail Mary Chicken Lettuce Wraps
Hail Mary Chicken Lettuce Wraps are the definition of a “one-two punch”. Their savory, umami-packed flavored chicken serves as the lead blocker while the delicate, yet delectable lettuce casing is light and feisty.
Inspired by classic Asian-style wraps, these play-off qualifying variations satisfy the most important gameday-related requirements: handheld, low-mess, satisfying, and not “food hangover” inducing.
Guests will start craving these just as halftime is starting…right after a legit Hail Mary attempt, but before the music gets cranking. Guests who take their training and macro counting seriously will be especially overjoyed when these are laid out. Be prepared, though; they’ll likely request a second serving sometime in the fourth quarter…
Nutrition Facts 1 serving: 260 calories 9g fat (2g saturated fat) 95mg cholesterol 520mg sodium 8g carbohydrate (3g sugars, 2g fiber) 33g protein
Ingredients (approximately 4 servings)
- 1 lb (450 g) lean ground chicken or diced chicken breast
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 tsp fresh grated ginger (or ½ tsp ground)
- 3 tbsp soy sauce or coconut aminos
- 1 tsp sesame oil
- 2 green onions, sliced
- 1 head butter lettuce, leaves separated
Preparation
- Cook chicken with garlic and ginger until browned
- Lightly stir in soy sauce and sesame oil until fully coated
- Spoon into lettuce cups and top off with green onions
Fourth-and-goal Mini Turkey Meatballs
Thanksgiving may have been months ago, but it’s impossible to separate football and turkey. Fourth-and-goal Mini Turkey Meatballs pack a punch in short yardage situations, but their clean macronutrient profile makes them appropriate throughout the Big Game.
Savory and lightly seasoned, be sure to keep the dips from your Buffalo Cauliflower Bites handy since these meatballs are perfect, dunked, dipped, or eaten straight off a toothpick.
These are sure to work for any down and distance and with every personnel group. Kids love them, adults appreciate the protein, and even the most health-conscious guests have to give a nod to lean turkey meat.
Nutrition Facts
1 serving: 310 calories 12g fat (3g saturated fat) 110mg cholesterol 430mg sodium 14g carbohydrate (2g sugars, 2g fiber) 34g protein
Ingredients (approximately 4 servings/16 meatballs)
- 1 lb (450 g) lean ground turkey
- 1 large egg
- ½ cup breadcrumbs or oat flour
- 1 tsp garlic powder
- 1 tsp onion powder
- 1 tsp Italian seasoning
- ½ tsp salt
- ¼ tsp black pepper
Preparation
- Gently mix all ingredients until completely mixed
- Roll into small balls and bake until cooked through
- Serve warm alongside dipping sauces
Pick-Six Parmesan Zucchini Fries
That plate of golden, smoking fries looks like a surefire heart attack…until realizing that the frying oil, excessive sodium, and complete lack of nutrients have been intercepted by the Pick-Six Parmesan Zucchini Fries.
Their crisp edges, light salty cheese, and gooey soft interior may draw a flag for excessive celebration but this “Super Bowl Party MVP” candidate deserves its props.
The Pick-Six Parmesan Zucchini Fries work particularly well early in the game, before rolling out heavier entrees. Be sure to remind guests to take it easy on them to save some room for what’s to come.
Nutrition Facts
1 serving: 240 calories 11g fat (4g saturated fat) 70mg cholesterol 520mg sodium 22g carbohydrate (4g sugars, 3g fiber) 14g protein
Ingredients (approximately 4 servings)
- 3 medium zucchinis
- 2 large eggs
- ½ cup grated Parmesan cheese
- ½ cup almond flour or breadcrumbs
- 1 tsp garlic powder
- Olive oil spray
Preparation
- Dip zucchinis into egg and lightly coat with Parmesan and flour
- Arrange on a baking sheet and lightly spray with oil
- Bake until golden and crisp
Audible Avocado Lime Smash
While other hosts play it safe and stick to traditional playcalling, the best aren’t afraid to change things up at the line…and this dip is the audible. Audible Avocado Lime Smash offers a creamy richness alternative to the same old ranch, blue cheese, and sour cream that rarely move the chains.
The Audible Avocado Lime Smash is best served fresh and pairs perfectly with the lean meat options we’ve profiled so far. It’s a true “every down back” and works just as well at kickoff as it does if the game goes into overtime.
Nutrition Facts
1 serving (¼ cup): 140 calories 12g fat (2g saturated fat) 0mg cholesterol 180mg sodium 8g carbohydrate (1g sugars, 5g fiber) 2g protein
Ingredients (approximately 4 servings)
- 2 ripe avocados
- 2 tbsp of 1 lime
- ¼ cup plain Greek yogurt
- 1 small clove garlic, minced
- ¼ tsp salt
Preparation
- Mash avocados until smooth
- Mix in all other ingredients
- Chill briefly before serving
Super Bowl Sunday All-purpose Chili
The final game of every football season takes place in the dead of winter. What better option than hearty, Super Bowl Sunday All-purpose Chili to warm things up throughout all four quarters?
Using leaner ingredients, this chili variant is a true game-day workhorse, and the type of entrée an entire party gameplan can be built around.
Best served midway through the second quarter, after guests have picked through finger foods and appetizers, the All-purpose Chili should be kept warm for repeat servings.
Nutrition Facts
1 serving: 420 calories 14g fat (4g saturated fat) 85mg cholesterol 680mg sodium 38g carbohydrate (6g sugars, 10g fiber) 36g protein
Ingredients (approximately 4 servings)
- 1 lb (450 g) lean ground beef
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- 1 medium onion, diced
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 can (15 oz / 425 g) diced tomatoes
- 1 can kidney beans, drained and rinsed
- 1 can black beans, drained and rinsed
- 2 tbsp chili powder
- ½ tsp salt
Preparation:
- Brown meat with oil, onion, and garlic
- Add remaining ingredients and simmer
- Keep warm for serving
Post-game Analysis
Before we finish up, we have an important disclaimer that we probably should have mentioned much earlier.
If you switch out your typical, greasy, high-calorie, sodium bomb-inducing options for one or more of these healthy Super Bowl snacks, your odds of suffering from the “Super Bowl flu” are drastically reduced.
You might end up being the only person in the office on Super Bowl Monday.
A worthy and healthy trade-off in our humble opinion!
