Jennifer Lopez and Shakira put on an impressive show at the 2020 Super Bowl halftime. Their stunning hair, tight costumes, and energetic dance moves made it one of the most talked-about performances. For women in their 40s and 50s, it certainly was inspiring! I’m 16 years younger than J-Lo and struggle to take a flight of stairs without needing a cheeky rest at the top. How do they do it? And do they need to give up joys in life like a Superbowl game day party with all of the tasty game day snacks?
Lopez is famous for her careful eating habits, combining lean proteins with lots of vegetables. She drinks plenty of water to stay hydrated and avoids caffeine and alcohol. According to her trainer, Anna Kaiser, Shakira often begins her day with boiled eggs, turkey wraps, or a smoothie made with protein powder. For a treat, she enjoys berries, dark chocolate, and almonds.
For the 2025 Super Bowl, we can expect Kendrick Lamar to wow us all with his musical talent and physical prowess. The superstar dubbed himself Big Protein in one of his songs, so we can only assume that his diet is pretty lean and clean, too! No high-in-saturated fat fried snacks for you, Kendrick.
While the New Year is a time when many take up healthier habits to get that JLo or Shakira body, as everyone begins to recover from the holiday eating spree and return to normal routines, Super Bowl foods and parties arrive to throw off those healthy plans. Stores begin filling their shelves with chips, dips, sweets, and drinks for game day, which means being surrounded by all the snacks we may have promised ourselves to avoid this month.
So, is it possible to have a healthy Super Bowl party while still having fun? Let’s look at a few game-day food tricks to make Super Bowl foods that are healthier while still being delicious. We think this menu might even be pop icon-approved!
Healthier Super Bowl Foods
Great news, considering obesity is still a major health concern globally …it’s possible to support a favorite team without overeating! The focus is on finding healthier versions of classic game day snacks and watching portion sizes. For anyone wanting to make their party food lighter, here are some healthier snack alternatives for a super football party.
Nachos
Nachos don’t have to be loaded with meat and cheese to be tasty. The trick is to add healthier ingredients without losing the snack’s appeal. For instance, there are many ways to make nachos lighter while keeping them delicious.
Try replacing fatty ground beef with extra lean ground beef, ground turkey, or even black beans instead of meat. Real cheese, grated from a block, is better than processed cheese. Sour cream can be swapped out for nonfat Greek yogurt, which has lots of protein. Fresh toppings like jalapenos, tomatoes, lettuce, onions, and cilantro can be added to the toppings bar instead of bacon bits. A better base can be made with nutrient-dense chips by choosing whole-grain options. Some of the choices on the shelves are white bean, tortilla, cauliflower, corn tortilla, and black bean quinoa multigrain chips.
Potato skins
Potato skins filled with bacon, cheese, and sour cream are popular at parties. The goal is to improve, not remove, the ingredients. Instead of using sour cream, nonfat Greek yogurt can be added to the skins. It gives the same tangy flavor without the negatives. Cut back on the bacon or replace it with smoked fish such as mackerel, tuna, and salmon, which are loaded with healthy omega-3 fatty acids.
Salt should be added sparingly to the potatoes, and fresh cheese should be shredded by hand. Off-the-block cheese tastes better and helps control how much is used by shredding it by hand. Pre-shredded cheese from a bag can often lead to using too much.
Many people like bacon, but it’s important to use it sparingly. Even a small amount can make a big impact, especially when other heavy snacks are being enjoyed during the game. Try lean turkey bacon instead. For extra flavor, fresh herbs and spices can be added to the potatoes.
Mixed snacks
Cereal and popcorn mixes can vary in healthiness depending on the ingredients. Popcorn is generally healthier because it is a whole grain, providing a filling and nutritious snack when eaten plain. However, since most people don’t enjoy plain popcorn, it’s important to choose toppings wisely. For those looking to reduce saturated fat on game day, olive oil and a little sea salt are better choices.
Snack mixes can be healthier by combining whole, unsalted, or lightly salted nuts, dried fruits, dark chocolate, and lower-sodium or unsalted pretzels. Seasonings and sauces provide enough flavor, so reducing salt in the mix won’t be a problem. Too much salt can cause bloating, so cutting down on sodium might make the party more enjoyable.
Chicken wings
Chicken wings can be made in many ways if prepared at home. Instead of deep-frying in oil and heavy breading, trying them smoked or baked is a healthier choice. Saltless seasonings like pepper, garlic powder, cumin, cayenne, onion powder, and paprika can be used, along with a small amount of olive oil to coat the wings. Baking them in the oven or in an air fryer until they are crisp is a good method. If an outdoor grill is available, different techniques can be used to smoke the wings, adding lots of flavor without extra salt and fat.
It’s important to choose dipping sauces that don’t have many added ingredients, particularly sugar. Packaged sauces often contain a lot of sugar, so checking the labels at the store is a good idea.
Dips
Dips are popular game day snacks because they are easy to make and perfect for sharing. It’s possible to make dips healthier without losing their taste. The changes might not even be noticeable. One could try:
- Making guacamole with fresh avocados, lemon juice, cilantro, and other herbs and spices.
- Salsa with a variety of ingredients like tomatoes, jalapenos, onions, black beans, corn, and fresh herbs and spices. Adding fruits such as cantaloupe, mango, watermelon, and strawberries can make it both nutritious and flavorful.
- Substituting nonfat Greek yogurt for sour cream in dip recipes provides the same taste with more protein and less unhealthy fat.
- Loading up with nutrient-dense dips like homemade hummus, tzatziki, or babaganoush.
Sweets
The idea of replacing game day snacks with plates of vegetables isn’t popular, but adding fruit kebabs to the dessert table is a great idea for any party. They’re easy to eat, tasty, and healthy. Fruit kebabs are fun for both kids and adults and can be made with different fruits to suit anyone’s preferences.
It’s not necessary to go all out. A frozen yogurt bar with fresh fruit toppings is a great idea. If the grill is already on for cooking chicken wings, it can also be used to grill pineapple or peaches. Grilling turns the fruit into something amazing!
Sneaking vegetables into game day snacks is also doable. Try baking sweet potato brownies instead of regular ones. No one will know! I like to hide zucchini in chocolate cake, too, or avocado in chocolate mousse.
Get Moving on Game Day!
Of course, one’s diet can be clean as a whistle, but if one’s lifestyle is sedentary, only half the battle is won. Let’s look at the workout routines of Superbowl celebs for some game day workout routine inspiration!
And What About a Game Day Workout Routine?
I can’t find much info on Kendrick’s workout routine to inspire a game day fitness challenge, but he does mention in many interviews that he loves running and considers it as almost a spiritual practice and a key part of his morning routine. It is also a fabulous way to boost dopamine! So why not get a few miles in on Super Bowl morning, just for good measure?
FAQs
How does Shakira get her abs?
Shakira has been reported by her trainer as saying that enjoys exercises that target deep core stabilizers. She often includes weighted full-range sit-ups and Pilates teasers in her routine. However, the singer isn’t fond of planks.
How many hours of sleep does JLo get?
In some interviews, Jennifer Lopez emphasizes the importance of getting sufficient sleep, suggesting it as her top tip for well-being. She shared with InStyle US that while she ideally aims for nine or ten hours of rest, she always ensures she gets at least eight hours each night.
What is the #1 Super Bowl food?
The top three favorite dishes people order for the Super Bowl are pizza, wings, and chips with dip, with chicken wings topping the list as the most popular.
