by Beth Trimarco
This year’s Super Bowl is taking place right in Blue Shield of California’s backyard: at Levi’s Stadium, home of the San Francisco 49ers. And when it comes to the biggest day in football, it’s a full-contact sport for snacking.
Angie Kalousek Ebrahimi, senior director of lifestyle medicine at Blue Shield, shares smart plays for your Super Bowl spread that blend culinary creativity, good health and local pride.
“Super Bowl food doesn’t have to mean overindulgence in junk food,” shared Kalousek Ebrahimi. “You can keep all the fun without quarterbacking poor eating choices on Monday morning.”
Below are Angie’s game-day strategies:
Create healthy competition during the game.
The real source of fun is our family and friends. Even if you’re not into the game — or your favorite teams aren’t playing — we can all enjoy the camaraderie of a Sunday afternoon together. Kalousek Ebrahimi gets everyone at her house moving with a push-up or squat challenge throughout the day. “It’s fun to try and outdo each other, and you can even put together a cash pool,” she said. “But my favorite prize? Make the losing team do the dishes.”
Have a game plan — just like the teams do.
If you’re hosting, Kalousek Ebrahimi’s healthy snack ideas (below) make it simple to stay on track. But attending someone else’s party can be trickier. “Showing up hungry with no plan is the quickest way to blow past your best intentions,” she said. Instead:
- Scan the spread when you arrive and decide what you really want to enjoy.
- Decide when you’re going to eat during the game. A small snack at kickoff and then a larger meal at halftime is smarter than mindless grazing throughout the day.
- Portion with purpose, and aim for a balanced plate with protein, fiber and nutrients to keep you full throughout the day.
Make the food fun.
If you’re hosting or bringing a dish, this is where you can really shine with delicious offerings that are also healthy — like Kalousek Ebrahimi’s “Sourdough Sam Power Bowl,” a nod to the San Francisco 49ers' beloved mascot (see Kalousek Ebrahimi’s full recipe below). Start with a small sourdough bread bowl, carve out the bread (save it to toss and toast with olive oil for salad croutons later), then fill the sourdough bowl with a high-protein, high-fiber, nutrient-dense chili.
Find recipe inspiration in the Thrive Global Cookbook.
For more ideas for healthy, filling options, Kalousek Ebrahimi turns to the Thrive Global Cookbook, a collaboration between Blue Shield of California Promise Health Plan and Thrive Global, the behavior change technology company founded by Arianna Huffington.
Her go-to game-day picks from the cookbook include:
- Guacamole — This party staple is loaded with nutrients and perfect for dipping or spreading.
- Edamame Hummus — Try something new and flavorful instead of a sour cream-based dip.
- Raspberry chocolate chip popsicles — This dessert leans on fiber-rich fruit instead of highly processed sweets.
Take a healthy reset — anytime.
If you veer into too much junk food, Kalousek Ebrahimi reminds us not to spiral. “Super Bowl food tends to stay out all day,” she said. “But you can check in with yourself at the end of each quarter and reset. Just like in football, one bad play doesn’t have to spoil the game.”
“This mindset applies to healthy eating overall,” she continued. “It's about how you eat over time. You can reset at the next snack, the next meal or the next day — not just on game day, but every day.”
To learn more about Blue Shield of California’s health and nutrition programs — available at no additional cost to most members — visit Wellvolution.
For more healthy recipes, check out the Thrive Global Cookbook, a collaboration between Blue Shield of California Promise Health Plan and Thrive Global, the behavior change technology company founded by Arianna Huffington. Click here to download the Thrive Global Cookbook in 11 languages.
Bonus Play Recipe: Angie’s Sourdough Sam Power Bowl with Chili
Ingredients
- 4 small loaves of sourdough bread (for the bowls)
- 2 Tbsp olive or avocado oil
- 1 onion (sliced)
- 2 garlic cloves (minced)
- 3 bell peppers (diced)
- 1 lb ground beef, turkey or chicken
- 2 Tbsp chili powder
- 1/4 tsp cinnamon (optional)
- 1 tsp cumin
- 1/2 tsp smoked paprika
- 1/2 tsp oregano
- 1 tsp salt (+ more to taste)
- pepper (to taste)
- 14 oz diced or crushed tomatoes (1 can)
- 14 oz tomato sauce (1 can, or use another can of diced / crushed tomatoes)
- 1 cup beef broth
- 2 cans kidney beans (rinsed + drained)
- 1 can black beans (rinsed + drained)
- Optional toppings - avocado, cheese, Greek yogurt, cilantro, hot sauce, tortilla chips
Instructions to make chili
- Slice onion and bell pepper, and mince garlic
- Add onion, bell pepper, and garlic to a pot with oil
- Saute for a few minutes over medium heat until they start to soften
- Add in ground meat and seasoning and mix well
- Add in tomatoes, tomato sauce, beans, and broth. Bring to a boil
- Once boiling, lower heat (optional to cover), and simmer for 45 mins to 1 hour
Instructions for bread bowl/assembly
- Slice off the top third of the loaf (save it for dipping or croutons)
- Hollow out the center, leaving 1/2 to 3/4 inch of bread all around and on the bottom
- Brush the inside only with a light coating of olive oil
- Bake at 375°F for 10-12 minutes, until lightly toasted
- Let the bowls cool for 5 minutes so steam doesn’t soften the bowl
- Fill with hot, but not boiling chili
- Add toppings and enjoy!