Plan ahead, use proven foods to score with Super Bowl party guests

By Karen Feldman
The (Fort Myers, Fla.) News-Press

With more than 100 million people expected to tune in Sunday, Feb 3, countless hosts and hostesses across the country will face the challenge of keeping the food and fun flowing without missing the game themselves.

Janet Sushil of Fort Myers, Fla., has faced this formidable task more than once. By coincidence, three of her grandchildren have been baptized on Super Bowl Sunday, resulting in large gatherings of family and friends from near and far at her house.

"After the first one, I swore I'd never have another party," she recalls. Nonetheless, the following year she was as it again, producing yet another baptism/Super Bowl extravaganza.

Two dishes in particular win high praise from her guests.

One is an eye of round roast that's a longtime family favorite.

"You have to marinate it the day before," she says, "but it's easy to do and it goes fast."

Because it needs to marinate for a long time, she makes it in advance, so it's one less thing to deal with at the last minute.

Also a winner with her family are Mexican roll-ups, which are quick to make, require no cooking and can be constructed early in the day and refrigerated.

Chef Willie Pitts of Cape Coral, Fla., says working ahead is the key to actually getting to attend your own event.

"Start early," he says, "and get everything done ahead that you can."

Of course, another solution is to get invited to someone else's party.

That's what Harold and Mary Louise Herre of Estero, Fla., do, although they never go empty-handed.

Harold Herre usually makes chicken wings.

"They're easy and people love them," he says, "but they aren't something that can be made ahead.

We usually eat them right away. The longer they're out, the worse they are," he says.

Because they are baked, they are less greasy than the fried version, but will get greasier as they cool. To ensure quality, he cuts up the wings at home, packs up what he needs and cooks them at his host's home.

Ginger Patterson, a registered dietitian, says that at Super Bowl parties, the emphasis is on finger foods, so it's easy to load up on fattening things.

"Finding healthy snacks is very difficult," she says.

While chicken wings are far from health food, Herre's baked ones are a better choice than fried ones, she says.

There are other ways to sneak a bit of good nutrition into the mix.

"Make sure there's a vegetable platter and pretzels," she says. "Go for whole grain crackers instead of potato chips. If you have to have chips, buy lighter ones. And make sure there are diet soft drinks and light beer."

Pass around bowls of freshly popped popcorn (the reduced-calorie, butter-flavored type).

"Don't buy the fat-free kinds," Patterson says. "I think they're disgusting. I'd rather have an extra gram or fat in there than have something that's inedible."

Cut up fresh fruit, too.

"If we offer fruits and vegetables there will be some people who will eat them," she says. "Not many, but some."

No matter how health-conscious you are, there are some traditional foods partygoers expect.

"You don't want to come up with too many new traditions or you won't have any friends left," Patterson says.

So bring on the nachos, the peanuts, potato chips and beer.

As always, Patterson urges moderation.

"You can still have these foods, but the question is how much of them are you going to have? Are you going to sit and eat a whole bowl of peanuts or a couple of tablespoons? Are you going to have a bag of chips or a handful?

(One tablespoon of peanuts packs 100 calories. Ten potato chips weigh in at 114 calories.)

Whatever is on the menu don't forget the antidotes for overindulgence — aspirin and antacids.