The most iconic Super Bowl snacks earned that status through accessibility and appeal. Traditionally, those have been your chicken wings, your potato chips, your cheese and beef dips.
In a culture that’s evermore aware of dietary preferences and sensitivities, though, the classics may not be for everyone. In that case, you’re going to need some alternative Super Bowl snacks.
Alternative products or the replacement of an ingredient or two can create a food spread that has something for everyone. The important thing is to be aware of what to watch out for and how to respond.
Super Bowl snacks from A to Z
In some cases, it’s purely a guest preference. In others, though, the reasons are medical.
As a host, you likely don’t want to have one or more of your guests excluded from sharing in the food due to such conditions. Common dietary allergies and sensitivities include:
- Carbohydrates
- Certain kinds of citrus
- Dairy
- Gluten
- Legumes like peanuts
- Shellfish
- Sugar
- Tree nuts
It’s also becoming more common for people to need to avoid multiple food products. For example, those with Hashimoto’s Thyroiditis often benefit from avoiding both dairy and gluten.
As these conditions have grown in prevalence, so have alternatives. We’ll tackle each category on its own. The important thing to note for all categories is that reading the ingredients list of a dish/product is of paramount importance.
Vegan or vegetarian Super Bowl snacks
It’s important to note the difference between vegan and vegetarian diets. Traditionally, vegetarian simply means a lack of animal flesh. People who follow such diet plans will usually still consume products containing eggs and milk from animals.
Vegan diets, on the other hand, demand a complete absence of all animal products. That means anything with dairy, eggs, or meat in it is off-limits.
These are some of the easiest alternatives to provide. For example, cauliflower “buffalo wings” are actually becoming an item that many people who do not follow either of these diets prefer. The Edgy Veg has a list of over 30 vegan snacks appropriate for the big game.
If you are looking for dairy alternatives for the vegan crowd, Daiya has a menu of such products available at grocers. These will also be on your shopping list if you have guests sensitive to dairy.
Dairy-free quite happily
Some people consume vegan products simply for the assurance that they won’t contain any dairy. Whether it’s simple lactose intolerance or something more complicated, dairy-free alternatives are on the rise to accommodate such individuals.
The great thing about a diet that simply avoids dairy is that there are still so many viable options. Compile the carbs, pack on the protein, and settle in for some sweets. To give you some ideas of what’s possible, Dairyfree.com has a robust list of 25 options catered to Super Bowl parties.
While your dairy-free guests might enjoy the Thai biscuit mini sandwiches and almond butter blondies, those are the devil’s delicacies for anyone who needs to avoid carbs. You need to take the opposite route there.
No need to skimp for low-carb eaters
While some people avoid carbohydrates just to lose weight, there are people who have a more serious need to limit their carbohydrates. Examples include people with metabolic issues.
Whatever the reason, animal fats and proteins are your targets here. Go ahead and whip up that Rotel dip but instead of offering tortilla chips with it, try slices of green pepper or the cauliflower breadsticks that Low Carb Maven has among its 57 suggestions for Super Bowl Sunday.
People with diabetes might gravitate toward these options as well because of how easily the body converts carbs into sugar. If foods that won’t spike a guest’s blood sugar are a priority, Diabetic Gourmet Magazine has you covered with 50 such options.
A similar but not identical camp is those who need to avoid gluten. Once again, including them in the menu is quite easy when you know what to look for.
Go gluten-free for Super Bowl snacks
Gluten is a protein commonly found in items with grains like barley, rye, and wheat in them. Fortunately, people with gluten sensitivities have even more “good grains” they can eat to their hearts’ content. Those include:
- Buckwheat
- Corn
- Oats
- Quinoa
- Rice
What’s important here is to check the ingredients of a prepared item you’re considering. Corn Flakes, for example, are not gluten-free, although the name might lead you to that conclusion.
Like with low-carb eaters, you can go hog wild on the dairy, fruits, proteins, and veggies here. Hungry Hobby offers 50 suggestions like goat cheese salsa dip. Just make sure you put out corn, not wheat flour, tortilla chips.
With just a little bit of information about your guests and available Super Bowl snack alternatives, your party can be one that welcomes all dietary preferences. You might need more help when it comes to your guests’ preferences on NFL teams, though.
How to watch Super Bowl LVI in Iowa
- What: Super Bowl LVI
- Who: Cincinnati Bengals vs. Los Angeles Rams
- When: 5:30 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 13
- Where: SoFi Stadium, Inglewood, CA
- TV: NBC
