Like the other 140 million Americans, I’m looking forward to the New Orleans Saints taking on the Indianapolis Colts in Super Bowl XLIV (44) on February 7.  I know nothing about Peyton Manning or Drew Brees or what a two-point conversion is, but I watch the game to see the ads and, even though I’m a dietitian, I like snack foods too!   

Super Bowl of Snacking
Did you know that Super Bowl Sunday is the biggest snack food day of the year?  Americans will eat some 2.5 million pounds of nuts during the game.  I guess it’s my job to convince all the sports nuts that the tastiest, snacky-est, sporty-est nuts are pistachios.  Pistachios are great because they have more satisfying protein and fiber than most nuts, and since you eat them out of the shell, they will help you eat more mindfully, despite how glued to the game you may be.

Blitz on Chips and Dips
Some of the other ways to make a Super Bowl spread healthier is to have baked chips instead of fried (save 50 calories per serving); opt for healthy dips like black bean, salsa and hummus; and use nonfat Greek yogurt in place of sour cream or mayo in your creamy dip recipes.   

Best Half-Time Eats
For the mainstay of your party, nix the wings and blue cheese dressing (100 calories a wing) and pizza (300 calories a slice) and make something healthier like turkey or roasted veggie sub sandwiches.  Another option is chicken satay with peanut dipping sauce.  You’ll shave hundreds of calories and at least a day’s worth of fat from your menu with those substitutions alone. 

Bench the High-Cal Beer and Beverages
Since beer is the fourth food group of Super Bowl Sunday, it’s good to know that there are some super light options now available that make it easy for the calorie-conscious to put a few away.  You can find some ultra-light beers that contain fewer than 70 calories a bottle; a light beer has about 95.  Regular beer has 150 calories in a 12 ounce bottle, and mixed drinks can pack in hundreds of calories per drink.

Super Bowl Snack Stats

• 2,000-4,000 calories in party food
   
• 80 million pounds of Hass avocados
   
• $240 million worth of soda
   
• 30 million pounds of snacks
   
• 11 million pounds of potato chips
   
• 8 million pounds of tortilla chips
   
• 4 million pounds pretzels
   
• 2.5 million pounds of nuts
   
• More pizza than any other day of the year

Kelly Plowe, MS, RD

Although she still remains a Boston sports fan, Kelly has changed her east-coast ways, adapting to the California lifestyle.