Score big with family friendly Super Bowl snack ideas

As the excitement of Super Bowl Sunday sweeps through households nationwide, it's easy for some members of your family, particularly the younger ones, to feel a bit sidelined amid the football frenzy. Whether your kids haven't quite caught the football bug or are just beginning to explore the sport, there's a fun, interactive way to involve them in the festivities: snack preparation.

Many of us love Super Bowl Sunday for its delicious food, so here are a few family friendly ideas to add to your playbook of snack options. They not only appeal to pint-sized palates but also offer an opportunity for your little ones to get hands-on in the kitchen. So gather your ingredients, don your aprons and tackle this snack-making game together!

Vegan nachos

Nachos are a great snack for large groups and can be a nutritious option for game day. It is easy to incorporate tasty ingredients while also getting in some fiber and plant-based proteins. Have your kids help assemble the nachos, cut the veggies or help plan which toppings to purchase and prepare.

• 1 bag of tortilla chips (I like to use bean-based chips to add extra fiber)
• 1-2 cans of pinto or black beans (drained and rinsed)
• 1 onion
• 2-4 cloves of garlic
• 2 bell peppers
• 1-1.5 cup of corn
• ½-¾ cup of vegan cheese (dairy cheese if not vegan)
• Salsa or sauce of choice (I like to use jalapeno sauce)
• Optional – avocado or guacamole
• 1 tablespoon of cooking oil like canola or olive oil
• 1 package of plant-based beef
• Seasonings of choice (salt, pepper, cumin, red pepper flakes)
• 1-3 tbsp soy sauce or coconut aminos
• Optional- 1-2 cloves garlic (chopped)

Directions

• Prepare the protein by heating a skillet on medium heat with cooking oil of choice. (I normally use canola oil.)
• If using garlic, sauté the garlic for 1 minute. While this heats up, unpackage the plant-based beef, crumble it in a bowl and add 1-3 tbsp of soy sauce and your seasonings of choice.
• Add the plant-based beef to the skillet and cook until it is brown and place to the side.
• Next, start the veggie mixture by adding another tbsp of cooking oil to your pan and heating up 2-4 cloves of chopped garlic for 1-2min.
• Once this is heated, add in your chopped bell peppers and onion and cook until translucent. Feel free to also add in any spices you would like here.
• Add the drained beans and corn to the veggie mixture.  Once cooked to your preferred texture, remove the skillet from the heat.
• Start assembling your nachos by placing the chips on a plate or sheet pan and adding the beef mix and the veggie mix. Top with your favorite type of cheese, sauce and avocado or guacamole.
• If you want to heat this more, stick the nachos in the oven on a sheet pan for 5-7min on 400F or microwave the mix on a plate for 30 seconds. Do not heat up the salsa or sauce.

Chocolate crispy rice footballs with fresh strawberries

This snack is a great kid-friendly treat that is on theme for the Super Bowl. You can add more fiber or protein to this snack by serving with strawberries or adding collagen or whey protein powder to the chocolate. Have your kids help by using the cookie cutter to make the footballs, adding the icing/whipped cream for the football laces or mixing the crispy rice cereal into the chocolate.

• 6 cups crispy rice cereal
• 10 oz bag of mini marshmallows
• ¼ cup butter, coconut oil or canola oil
• 1 cup chocolate spread
• White icing, mallow spread or whipped cream
• Football shaped cookie cutter
• Optional: Add whey or collagen powder to the mix to up the protein or serve with strawberries to add fiber.

Directions

• Line a 9 x 13 sheet pan with parchment paper and lightly coat with cooking spray of your choice.
• Add butter or coconut oil to a large pot over low-medium heat.
• Once melted, add the marshmallows and continuously stir until melted
• Remove from heat and stir in the chocolate spread until smooth. You can also add protein powder if you would like.
• Add the crispy rice cereal and stir until coated.
• Transfer the mix to a sheet pan and use a spatula to press the mixture into the sheet pan.
• Allow the mix to cool for 30-60min.
• Use a football-shaped cookie cutter to cut the treats into shapes.
• Use icing or whipped cream to add football laces.
• Transfer footballs to a serving dish and add strawberries or fruit of choice surrounding the footballs or to make field goal posts.

Recipe and photo adapted from Whitney Bond

Air fryer potato skins

Potato skins are a tasty snack with plenty of fiber. This recipe utilizes an air fryer to make this dish more heart healthy through convection baking rather than deep frying. I added bell peppers and green onions to this recipe to up the fiber and veggie content. You can also feel free to add a protein to this recipe, like ground turkey or ground beef, to make this snack more satiating. Have your kids help with chopping the veggies and potatoes, adding the seasonings and cooking oil or helping with the assembly and serving.

• Four medium or large sized russet potatoes
• 1-2 tbs cooking oil
• ½ tbsp sea salt
• ½ teaspoon ground black pepper
• Toppings
• 1 chopped bell pepper
• 2 green onions
• Cheese
• Greek yogurt or sour cream
• Ranch seasoning
• Protein of choice

Directions

• Place the washed potatoes in a bowl and drizzle with cooking oil. Rub the oil into the potato skins with your hands. Sprinkle salt and pepper.
• Add the potatoes to the air fryer and set to 400 degrees for 35 minutes. Test with a fork to see if they are done. If they aren’t, cook for 5 more minutes.
• Slice the potatoes into halves and scoop out some of the center, leaving some potatoes.
• Drizzle cooking oil over the potato and skin sides, then sprinkle ranch seasoning, raw bell peppers and any other veggie toppings (except the green onions) or seasonings of choice.
• Add the potato skins to the air fryer and cook at 400F for 5 minutes.
• Add shredded cheese to the skins and cook them in the air fryer for 2 more minutes at 350F.
• Top with sour cream or Greek yogurt and green onions and enjoy!

Recipe and photo adapted from the Domestic Superhero

Whether your kids are seasoned sports enthusiasts or just beginning to explore the world of football, involving them in the pre-game excitement adds enjoyment to the festivities. No matter who wins on the field, you'll win with delicious snacks and time spent with your kids, creating memories that will last long after the final whistle.

Healthier eating isn’t just for Super Bowl Sunday. Connect with a dietitian near you to get tips for eating right all year around.