Kick Off a Winning Super Bowl® Party

By: Vanessa Greaves & Richard Kozel

For armchair quarterbacks everywhere, the Super Bowl is not just a game.

Super Food and Fun

Local Heroes

The Saints, Dat's Who!

Mardi Gras came early to New Orleans as the Saints took their first victory in their first Super Bowl appearance in team history, winning against the Indianapolis Colts 31-17.

New Orleans Saints

Let the good times roll with bites from the Big Easy.

Green Day

Super Bowl viewers will consume enough guacamole to cover a football field waist-deep in creamy green dip, according to the California Avocado Commission.

What they don't tell us is how much ends up on your couch.

More Football Menu Ideas

Keeping your head in the game is a no-brainer when your menu is self-serve:

That's the Spirit!

It's the game. And it's one of the few times that--when it comes to sensible eating--all bets are off.

Now here's the plan. Whether you tune in for the game, the halftime show, or the commercials, you won't miss one minute of the action if you keep things simple with make-ahead dishes and easy buffets.

Miami Spice

The big game happens in Miami this year, and that means working a menu with a Gulf Coast vibe. Think seafood and spicy Cuban cooking. Sound like a winner? Here's what your Miami-style party food lineup could include:

Pre-Game Goodies

When you're a true fan, the lead-up to the main event is just as compelling as the game itself. Check your local TV listings to see when the pre-game show starts, and make sure you've got plenty of snacks on hand to fuel your guests until kickoff.

Football Classics

There's something about football that makes us want to eat with our hands, and we're not talking about delicate tea cakes. No sir. We reach for pizza, hot wings, hearty dips and hefty sandwiches. Drinks are easy: just keep plenty of beer on ice. And for dessert, how about football-shaped sugar cookies iced in team colors?