Healthy, Easy Super Bowl Party Recipes

How to Eat Healthy on Super Bowl Sunday

Did you know that Super Bowl Sunday is the second largest day for food consumption after Thanksgiving? Super Bowl parties often involve finger foods, a lot of people sharing communal dishes, and treats that are left out for a long period of time—all which can lead to foodborne illness, also known as food poisoning. Foodborne illness affects about 1 in 6 Americans (48 million people) each year, resulting in approximately 128,000 hospitalizations and an estimated 3,000 deaths.

The best host wants to make sure that foodborne illness is not invited to the party, so follow these simple rules for food safety. Thoroughly CLEAN and wash kitchen surfaces, utensils and hands before preparing or serving food and wash all produce including produce you plan to peel, such as avocados. SEPARATE raw meats and poultry from ready-to-eat foods like fruit and vegetables. COOK meat and poultry to the right temperature by using a food thermometer. CHILL raw and prepared foods within two hours.

For serving, remember to keep cold foods chilled to 40°F or below and hot foods heated to 140°F or above. Instead of using large serving bowls, serve chili, guacamole, salsa or dips in smaller containers, and offer serving spoons and small plates to reduce the opportunity for guests to eat directly from the bowls. Make several small containers in advance and keep them chilled in the refrigerator. Replace the serving bowls with fresh ones throughout the party and discard any perishable food left out at room temperature for more than two hours.

Try these healthy recipes for your Super Bowl Feast this year!

Enjoy the game!

References
SOURCE: FDA.gov. What's Your Game Plan for Game Day? January 31, 2013