I will be totally honest, I don’t care about football. But I do love a theme party! I’m even happy to show up to a football-themed party. 

At a football party you can expect to find me chit chatting, having a beer and enjoying a bit of comfort food. Game, what game?

However, football parties are notoriously unhealthy events with lots of beer, cheese dip, chips, chicken wings, pizza and more. So I want to share some tips on staying healthy on Super Bowl Sunday. With a little planning, you can make it through the day without going overboard.

As with all holidays or special events, I always think it’s a good idea to indulge a bit, but not go crazy. If you overeat all day, you’ll feel gross and you’re more likely to continue overeating and eating nutrient poor foods after the day is over.

Here are my healthy Super Bowl tips…

If you’re attending a Super Bowl party:

• Eat something before heading to the party. If you show up starving, you’ll be more likely to overeat. Have a smoothie with protein powder or a piece of fruit and a hard boiled egg so you have a good mix of carbs and protein to help you feel full longer.
• Browse the food options before committing. Decide what healthy foods are available to fill up on and decide on one or two indulgent items you’re dying to have. 
• Alternate booze and water. Calories from alcohol can really add up. Have a beer or cocktail, then drink a large glass of water. If you feel like having another alcoholic drink after your water, go for it. But drink another class of water after.
• Step away from the food. After you’ve eaten, steer clear of the food table to avoid picking for the rest of the game.
• Get off the couch. Don’t spend the whole game sitting. Watch the game standing up or take a walk during halftime.

If you’re having a Super Bowl Party:

• Give your chips a makeover. Make homemade baked potato chips instead of serving the bagged variety. Or serve carrot chips with hummus. If you buy chips, pick up Sun Chips, Garden of Eatin’ Tortilla Chips, Terra Sweet Potato Chips or Stacy’s Pita Chips.
• Serve a veggie tray. Use carrots, snap peas, red and orange pepper slices, broccoli, cauliflower, etc. Even if you still serve some other unhealthy things, at least you’ll have some crunchy fresh veggies for yourself.
• Create a cheese platter. Check out these tips for creating the perfect cheese platter from Lauren Conrad. A cheese platter may seem a little fancy for football, but add some sausages and crackers and it’s a bit more manly.
• Come up with some fun halftime games that will get people up and moving. Have a football-themed scavenger hunt around your house and yard, go outside and play a quick game of football or tag, have a dance contest or play football-themed charades.

Need some recipe ideas for game day? Try some of these delicious (and healthy) recipes…

Black Bean and Quinoa Chili

Cranberry Cheddar Sausage Bites

Cauliflower Buffalo Wings

Skinny Guacamole

What are you serving at your Super Bowl party?

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