Unjunk Your Super Bowl Party

Super Bowl parties are practically synonymous with super-sized snacking of the oh-so-unhealthy variety. But here’s the thing: it doesn’t have to be quite as unhealthy as most people make it. With a few tips from our book, Unjunk Your Junk Food, you can snack on your favorite treats—without the artificial ingredients.

Chips

Potato chips are a party staple. We’re not even going to suggest skipping them in favor of veggies. But you can choose a healthier chip. Look for brands that are free of MSG (monosodium glutamate) and trans fats. And forget fat-free chips made with olestra—the fat substitute actually inhibits the absorption of key vitamins and nutrients.

Our pick for a healthier chip: Kettle Brand Potato Chips. If a light chip is a must, we like Brothers All-Natural Potato Crisps—100% Fat Free.

Popcorn

Popcorn is a go-to party food, simply because it seems healthier than fried chips—seems being the operative word. A few rather unsavory ingredients are probably lurking in your average microwave popcorn. In Orville Redenbacher’s Gourmet Popping Corn – Butter Flavor, you’ll find artificial color, artificial flavor and TBHQ, a petroleum-based preservative that’s been associated with nausea and vomiting—not the way you want to spend the Super Bowl.

Our pick for healthier popcorn: Newman’s Own Organics Butter Flavored Pop’s Corn. Just remember that anything you add to your popcorn will probably make it less healthy.

Beverages

When it comes to cola, Coca-Cola might be a classic, but it’s not your best choice. Loaded with caffeine (about a third of the caffeine in a cup of coffee) and high-fructose corn syrup, which has been shown to contribute to increased belly fat and insulin resistance. Even when you’re trying to be good by skipping soda and opting for a sports drink, you may be not much better off. Powerade also contains high-fructose corn syrup, preservatives and artificial colors (Mountain Berry Blast is made with Blue 1, one of our top ingredients to avoid). Artificial colors have been linked to hyperactivity.

Our pick for healthier beverages: Blue Sky Beverage Soda for a cola, and R. W. Knudsen Family Mixed Berry Recharge for a sports drink.

For more ways to snack smarter and healthier, pick up a copy of Unjunk Your Junk Food.