Your healthy Big Game guide

Whether or not your team made it to the Big Game, the biggest football game of the year is always a party. Who doesn’t love getting together with their friends and yelling at the TV for a few hours? And no Super Bowl is complete without the amazing snacks—wings, dips, chips, oh my!

But there is a downside. These tasty foods aren’t always the best choice for anyone looking to lose or maintain their weight. In order to help you through the big day, we’ve put together a list of simple swaps so you can enjoy the football fun while still keeping your healthy lifestyle in mind. Go team!

At home

Hosting the game day party is the easiest way to ensure you’ll be able to nosh on healthy snacks. And healthy doesn’t mean unsatisfying foods. You can still have all the classics.

Edamame nachos
These healthier nachos keep all the game-day flavor with smarter swaps, including baked tortilla chips, plenty of veggies, and a lighter yogurt-based topping.

Broccomole
This recipe is made without avocados, keeping it at 25 calories a serving. Feel free to add an avocado into the mix and serve with carrot sticks, celery, or baked chips.

Lightened-up Buffalo wings
A game-day party isn’t complete without Buffalo wings. Try this recipe that features boneless wings that are baked instead of fried, leaving you with a fraction of the fat, calories, and sodium. Touchdown!

Baked mozzarella sticks
Who doesn’t love mozzarella sticks? This delicious recipe is baked instead of fried, retaining all of the flavor and crunch with fewer calories.

Turkey burger sliders
Burgers are a classic game day food. This spin uses lean turkey meat to cut down on fat and calories.

At a friend’s house

After your own home, a friend’s is the next best place to watch the game while staying healthy. Sure, your pal may serve up some unhealthy treats, but bring your own recipe (or two) so you have something to snack on. (Plus, brownie points for being the most polite guest at the party!)

Choose from any of the recipes above or some below.

Sweet potato skins
This tasty dish is a spin on the classic potato skin, but substitutes sweet potatoes for white potatoes. Sweet potatoes are an excellent source of Vitamin A, an antioxidant superstar that is linked to anti-aging, cancer prevention, and the maintenance of eyesight.

Spinach and artichoke dip
This tasty spinach and artichoke dip uses low-fat Greek yogurt to lighten up on calories without giving up flavor. It has 50% less cholesterol, 56% less fat, and 40% less salt than restaurant spinach and artichoke dip. Serve it warm and cheesy—your football-loving friends will never know it’s healthy!

At a bar

Bars are a great place to watch the game. There are tons of fans, the energy is high, and so many TVs that you’ll never miss any of the action.

But bar food is not known for its nutritional benefits. But if you end up at your neighborhood pub, don’t worry. There are always options that will watch out for your waistline.

Vegetarian quesadilla: You don’t need to miss out on the snacking fun just because you’re at a bar. Order a vegetarian quesadilla! Get it filled with veggies and black beans instead of meat and cheese (you could save 700 calories), and don’t go overboard with the dips. (A restaurant serving of sour cream and guacamole is about 200-250 calories.)

Burger: Love burgers? No worries. To save some calories, skip the heavy fixings. Bacon, fried onions, and cheese can add up to 300 calories. Dress your burger with the classics—ketchup, mustard, lettuce, tomato, and pickles.

Chicken wings (with a smart twist): Wings don’t have to be off-limits. Choose grilled or baked if available, and go for buffalo or dry-rub styles instead of sticky, sugary sauces. Skip—or lightly dip into—the ranch or blue cheese.

Nachos—shared, not solo: Nachos can work if you split them. Look for versions topped with beans, veggies, and a modest amount of cheese, and scoop up more toppings than chips when you can.

Drinks

So we’ve got the food covered. But a big portion of Super Bowl fun is missing—the drinks! If you decide to opt out of booze, good for you. But we know most will be indulging in at least a bit of game time fun.

The best options for alcoholic beverages are:

• light beer
• red or white wine
• liquor mixed with soda water

Whether you’re hosting, hopping between friends’ houses, or squeezing into a crowded bar, game day doesn’t have to turn into an all-or-nothing situation. A few thoughtful choices—swapping baked for fried, loading up on veggies, and keeping portions in check—can let you enjoy the snacks, the drinks, and the excitement without feeling sidelined from your goals. The win here isn’t perfection; it’s balance. So grab a plate, savor what you love, cheer loudly, and let game day be fun and feel-good—no flag on the play.