ATLANTA (January 24, 2011) Super Bowl Sunday is the “Super Bowl” of snacking!  Research by the Calorie Control Council (the “Council”) and Snack Food Association finds that Americans will eat 30 million pounds of snacks on the big game day.  That breaks down to 11.2 million pounds of potato chips, 8.2 million pounds of tortilla chips, 4.3 million pounds of pretzels, 3.8 million pounds of popcorn and 2.5 million pounds of nuts.  The average armchair quarterback will consume 1200 calories and 50 grams of fat from snacking and that doesn’t even count any meals!

The Council’s research reveals that potato chips, the snacking favorite, will account for 27 billion calories and 1.8 billion grams of fat.  These 1.8 billion fat grams nationwide are the same as four million pounds of fat, which is equal to the weight of 13,000 National Football League (NFL) offensive linemen at 300 pounds each.

The Council recommends pre-planning your Super Bowl event and menu to include no-fat and low-fat chips and dips.  For instance, choosing fat-free potato chips for the big game could save up to 300 calories per person.  And, nationwide, fat-free potato chips could even cut 14 billion calories and 1.8 billion fat grams from our snack attacks.

When it comes to dips, it is possible to cut the fat without cutting the flavor.  Try salsa, which is fat-free or substitute reduced-fat sour cream and non-fat yogurt.  Use fresh herbs and spices such as cilantro, parsley and hot peppers to add great flavor.  Add fresh vegetables and low-fat dips to your party tray and you’ve got a healthy appetizer in no time!  Also, try getting a little extra physical activity to burn off super bowl snacks by tossing the football at halftime or walking to a neighbors house to get a play by play. 

Beth Hubrich, a dietitian with the Council, recommends planning a “Pre-Super Bowl Workout” before settling in to watch the game.  “For example, to burn off those 1200 calories from snacking during the Super Bowl, it would take three hours of walking around a football field or one hour and 45 minutes of running.  Or, if you want to get into the game spirit, it would take two hours of playing touch football to burn those calories,” she says.

“You certainly don’t want to have a dietitian at your Super Bowl party calling ‘interference’ when you and your friends start overindulging.  But by doing a little game planning in advance, you can avoid becoming one of the millions of fans who eat 50 grams of fat in a very short period of time,” Hubrich notes.

Check out the Calorie Control Council's appetizer recipe section to find a list of healthy spreads and dips perfect for the next Super Bowl party.