Super Bowl Super Food

Feeding growing boys {and their dads} can be a daunting task on any day of the week. For special {testosterone filled} occasions, the stakes are higher.

Over the years, I have cooked for many a Super Bowl party and I love hearing my boys ask “whatcha making Mom”? Here are a few ideas to fill their bellies, big or small, while watching the big game.

Football shaped goodies: One year I went a tad overboard with the football shaped theme. Everything was football shaped, including cocoa krispy cereal treats. I would recommend everything in moderation including the theme. Chicken salad on halved croissants is close to the shape as well as cheese steaks with sauteed onions and peppers in pita bread.
Hearty main dish: Appetizers are yummy {we will talk about those in a minute} but it takes a lot of that type of food to fill up a boy with a hearty appetite. Try to come up with a main dish and have complimentary sides. One year I made a big pot of chili and made a chili bar. I had baked potatoes, hot dogs, nacho fixin’s and all the makings for a taco salad. Everyone could come up with their favorite chili combination and some of my boys ate all of the above. Other years have been make your own pizza with a topping bar, make your own hoagie with all the trimmings- you can see I like to offer lots of choices when it comes to feeding droves of hungry guys.
Provide a variety of flavors. One son likes hot wings while another prefers BBQ. So, when I make wings I make both types. I prep and bake the wings the same way and then the last part of the baking involves adding the flavor. Same with nacho cheese dip, I make a spicy version and a mild version to satisfy the different palates in my household.
Use fillers. The Super Bowl lasts for a while {as does any football game} so I make sure to have lots of snack options for before and after the main course. Guys like to graze so make sure you provide a diverse spread of food. Easy things like deviled eggs, ham and cheese on party sized potato rolls, cheese and cracker trays, etc. can keep your guys from being distracted by hunger. Pigs-in-a-blanket are always a hit. Don’t forget the pickles!
Trade “junk” for healthy alternatives. I raised my boys to eat their veggies but some kids prefer the junk food. Occasions like the Super Bowl we usually lean towards more unhealthy food but it is possible to make some simple changes to make your menu healthier. For instance, use whole wheat tortillas and fill with ham and swiss cheese. Eating tortilla chips with homemade salsa and guacamole is healthier than Rotel dip.
Don’t forget dessert. If for no other reason than mama deserves some chocolate for all her hard work, make sure you have some sweet items and not just savory flavors. Brownies with drizzled white icing {shaped like footballs of course}, sugar cookies with chocolate frosting {shaped like footballs of course}…you get the point.
Keep ‘em hydrated. All that cheering can be tough on the voice box so make sure your boys stay hydrated. Big pitchers of lemonade or sweet tea are easy to keep refilled.

The important thing is to have fun with your boys while watching the big game and create good {and tasty} memories with your sons in the process.