Everyone knows the classic Superbowl fare: hot dogs, chicken wings, chips, soda, nachos, cheese dip and pizza. In other words, ball or theme park food. But Superbowl food doesn't have to be a grease fest or lacking in creativity. If you're tired of the same things over and over, or are considering a healthier approach to feeding your friends and family, there are alternative foods to try that sacrifice nothing in flavor and will leave your guests feeling satisfied.
Kids Are Sweet Enough As Is
TzatzikiWhole Wheat Mini Sandwiches with Lean Meat
As an alternative to burgers, sloppy joes, pulled-pork sandwiches or the subway platter from your local grocery market, consider making your own sandwiches so you have complete control over the ingredients. Use whole wheat breads (rustic or sandwich) and fill with light mayonnaise (or mustard or olive oil), lean cuts of meat such as turkey or chicken, fresh vegetables and herbs. Serve either cold or hot from a press and cut into small pieces.
Roasted Vegetables
Instead of the ubiquitous raw-vegetable tray of celery and carrot sticks with a plastic bowl of ranch dip stuck in the middle, offer your guests vegetables they will actually want to eat. Roasted vegetables sound messy, but can easily be picked off a tray with a toothpick. Cut up zucchini, tomatoes, squash, onions, bell peppers and sweet potatoes in bite-size pieces (French fry size also works) and lay flat on a baking tray. Drizzle with olive oil, salt, pepper and Italian herbs. The vegetables are baked until bubbly and slightly crisp (about 1 hour at 400 degrees F). Serve the veggies with toothpicks or forks and you're sure to get surprised looks from the crowd.
Seafood Dips
Though classic dips are loved almost religiously, mix up a few alternative tastes to bring some variety to the dipping club. Seafood rarely finds it way onto the Superbowl menu, so to remedy that, consider making crab or salmon dip served with oven-baked pita chips or crackers. Offering a dipping food keeps guests busy while eating, and satisfies the dipping desire so well that the guests will forget completely about the absence of chips and salsa.
