Super Bowl Sunday is reported to be the second biggest food day for Americans after Thanksgiving, according to the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA). The average American may consume as much as 2,400 calories during the game — more than the daily caloric requirement.
The Calorie Control Council had previously reported on a 1,200 calorie snack menu consisting of potato chips, tortilla chips, pretzels, popcorn, and nuts. This year, however, the Council studied a larger food spread. A somewhat moderate party menu, which may include pizza, chicken wings, potato chips, beef nachos, beer, or soda, adds up to over 2,400 calories and 121g of fat according to the USDA National Nutrient Database.
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Some of the popular food items named in a recent NPD Group survey are:
ITEM | SERVING | CALORIES | FAT |
Pepperoni pizza | 2 slices | 596 | 24.3g |
Regular beer | 3 cans (12oz) | 458 | 0g |
Regular soda | 3 cans (12oz) | 420 | 0g |
Tortilla chips | 3 servings (11-13 chips/serving) | 418 | 18.3g |
Potato chips | 3 servings (11-13 chips/serving) | 465 | 31.9g |
Cheese dip | 1/4 cup | 73 | 5.5g |
Seven layer dip | 1/4 cup | 76 | 4g |
Fried hot wings with blue cheese dip | 6 wings | 570 | 40g |
Pigs in a blanket | 5 | 650 | 40g |
Beef nachos | 1 serving | 430 | 25g |
BBQ sandwiches | 1 regular sandwich | 437 | 16g |
Meatballs | 4 | 160 | 12g |
Veggie tray | 4 celery sticks w/ ranch dip | 69 | 7g |
Brownies or cake | 2 brownies (4″ square) | 447 | 30g |
Cupcake | 1 cupcake | 200 | 9g |
Planning the food menu to incorporate lower calorie appetizers and beverages in advance can help cut the calories consumed on game day.
For more information visit CalorieControl.org.