Have Yourself A Healthier SuperBowl!

It's about that time again, the great American pasttime of celebrating the SuperBowl with friends, food & drinks.  Last year I wrote a post on festive football decor and snack ideas which a lot of people responded to, I even got a few photos of their set ups!  This year, one of my personal goals is to stay on track with my fitness, so I have been researching healthy SuperBowl ideas.  Besides, aren't most engaged couples looking to stay in great shape leading up to the wedding? 

While SuperBowl parties and "healthy eating/drinking" don't necessarily go together for some people, according to a recent poll conducted by the National Restaurant Association survey, "42% of Americans say that nutritious options are a mandatory part of their game day spread" (source).  So here are just a few ideas and recipes to help even out your game day table.

I've come across some great options thanks to my weekly (free) email subscription to Fitness Magazine.  They have some awesome suggestions for keeping this festive football holiday healthy.  Such as tips on healthy tailgating, crockpot recipes, healthiest party foods (YES! Bruschetta made the list!) and the best way to "tackle" a superbowl party spread & stay on track.

Grilled meat is healthy & delicious! Source

The most obvious way to integrate healthy foods into your gameday is to make a more nutritious version of your favorite foods.  Most parties have chips & dip and here is a great twist on the dip side, Grilled Corn Salsa.  Pair this with some multi grain chips and you are leaps and bounds below the typical chips/dip combo calories.



Another healthy take on an American favorite is swapping out regular french fries for sweet potato fries.  You can buy them frozen from the grocery store (I buy Ore Ida Sweet Potato Crinkle Fries, the serving size is 13 fries for 140 calories) or you can buy whole sweet potatoes and make them yourself. 

Source

And since I do realize the need to balance things out, here are free printables for football decor along with receipes for team spirit popcorn & homemade pretzels.  And one more free football printables for good measure.  Enjoy!

Inspiration Station: Super Bowl Wedding Boards

Yes, you read the title correctly.  Inspiration can come from the most unlikely places which is why I wanted to feature the genius from Gig Masters that I couldn't wait to share.  This past Sunday, much like the rest of the country, I enjoyed the classic American tradition of watching the big game with friends, drinks, and great food.  I did a post on sports themed weddings awhile back & so when I saw the great idea of creating Green Bay Packers and Pittsburgh Steelers wedding inspiration boards, I was intrigued.  To be clear, these boards focus on the color schemes and nods to each city's treasures.  It is a great way to incorporate your man's favorite team without having a 'tailgate wedding' feel.  Without further ado, here are the boards.  Enjoy!

  Source

 

Source

Football Fever- An American Pastime

Any chance to turn a simple get together into something fun & creative, I'm a huge fan of.  As the Super Bowl approaches, I know that even guys appreciate a nice set up and some thought put into a superbowl party.  I've never held a Super Bowl party and this year I think we are going out to a local bar with friends but I can't help but love all the football inspired party ideas I'm seeing lately.  If you are throwing a shindig tomorrow, here are a few ideas to jazz up your party without a lot of fuss.  Enjoy!

1. Create football decor in a snap. A lot of grocery stores have cheap paper table clothes with football themes or you can go the extra mile and create your own.  You can buy some green felt and iron on the 10, 20, 30 lines or you can buy a foot of AstroTurf and put down white tape for the lines. 

 

Source

Source

2. For those who plan in advance, football invites are a fun way to get people excited for your party!  You can either order invites online or set up an Evite with a football themed background.

Source

3. If you have kids to entertain, set up a table just for them.  Set aside a room in the house with a tv, games, so they can run around and not interrupt the big game.  Make sure there are kid friend food and lots of napkins!

Source

4. Superbowl is about 3 things; the big game, the commercials, and THE FOOD.  Keep guests happy with a balance of 'real food' like chili, pulled pork (both great crockpot dishes to make your prep easier), 'finger food' like chips, dips, veggies and some sweet desserts.  This is a key way to get creative and as long as it is delicious & looks football related, your party guests will be happy.

Source