Whether you’re a hardcore football fan or simply tune in for the commercials and halftime show, we all know the best part about the Super Bowl is the excuse to whip up some delicious Healthy Super Bowl Snacks. But if you try to be mindful of what you eat, we’ve got a game day PSA for you: With just a few easy tweaks, you can include all of the classics in your starting lineup—including messy wings and creamy dips—without throwing off your goals.
It all starts with a healthy eating strategy, says Leslie Bonci, M.P.H., R.D.N., owner of Active Eating Advice by Leslie and sports dietitian for the Kansas City Chiefs. “Choose foods that take longer to eat, such as dips or something that requires a utensil, like chili. If you can, set up the food in a room away from the TV so you have to get up and move every time you want more,” she says. “You can even try bringing out new dishes each quarter so you’re spreading out your eating instead of gorging all at once.”
Reimagining your menu can be helpful, too. See where you can sneak in extra nutrients, like buying bean-based chips (for filling fiber), mixing veggies into sliders, meatballs, or dips, choosing plant-based bites like cauliflower swapped for wings, or reaching for Greek yogurt instead of sour cream for dips. You can also consider serving individually wrapped packaged items for portion control and good hand hygiene, Bonci adds.
So, eating healthy on Super Bowl Sunday doesn’t have to end in a loss. Get creative and make it a game to find new and nutritious recipes to love. We promise that you won’t regret it and it will make a difference the next day!
Remember that at the Fitness Zone, we believe that Exercise is Medicine!
