The Super Bowl diet: How players (and fans) get game-day ready – and what YOUR state will be tucking into this Sunday
- On Sunday, the Los Angeles Rams and the New England Patriots will go head to head in Super Bowl LIII in Atlanta, Georgia
- Gathering around the TV for a day of sports, snacks and drinks is an American tradition
- We reveal how players and fans alike are eating this Super Bowl Sunday
The Super Bowl is about so much more than the game to players and fans alike: it’s also about the food.
Many NFL teams now keep nutritionists or dietitians on staff to ensure that the players are fed and fueled for peak performance.
But for the occasion of the Super Bowl, even the best athletes have their pet splurges – and so do fans.
We reveal who’s eating what – and where – on game day.
New England Patriots players indulged in turkey on the field on Thanksgiving, but for most of the year they keep to regimented diets
HOW TO EAT LIKE A PRO: NFL PLAYER’S DAILY DIETS WHEN IT’S NOT THE SUPER BOWL
An NFL player’s diet varies depending on the period of the season, the position he plays, the time he spends on the field and his own personal metabolism, former Seattle Seahawks diet consultant Dr Susan Kleiner told Daily Mail Online.
‘In general, there’s the lineman people who block and the people who run,’ she said.
‘They all need agility, but it’s a question of do you run into a wall or are do you need to be able to run as fast as you can.’
And the times have changed, so while football players still need to consume a lot of calories it’s now just as much about quality as quantity, and the focus is on whole foods.
But time is also of the essence. At the height of training, many players just don’t have the time to sit down and eat as many calories as they need to fuel them, so their diets are often part smoothies, shakes and supplements.
Depending on weight, a player may need to consume between 3,500 to 6,000 calories a day, drink the equivalent of two or three cups of milk, and half as many ounces of water as he ways in pounds.
According to Dr Kleiner, a typical day’s meals might go like this:
MORNING
- Several starches, like whole grain bread, oatmeal, potatoes or cream of wheat
- Several servings of fruit, to bolster antioxidants for better recovery
- One whole egg, plus two or more egg whites – preferably with some vegetables or avocado mixed in
After lighter morning activities or reviewing recordings of games, players might grab a smoothie that ‘hides vegetables and fruit,’ before hitting the field for practice.
MID-DAY
Depending on time and position, mid-day meals vary.
Quarterbacks may have more practices and need to stay light, so they might have a light turkey sandwich or another smoothie or protein shake.
Blockers and other players have more time to bulk up at lunch and are more likely to have:
- Chicken breast or sliced turkey
- Potatoes or another starch
- Several servings of vegetables – the more diverse the better – steamed or sauted
- Salad of dark leafy greens
- Quinoa bowl
- Another couple servings of fruit
Then it’s time to ‘sit again, digest and train again,’ Dr Kleiner says, and perhaps grab another smoothie on the way to the field.
EVENING
‘Dinner should be robust,’ Dr Kleiner says.
It might include a large spread of:
- Six ounces or more of a lean protein – particularly fatty acid-rich salmon
- A cup of potatoes, quinoa or both
- Another two or more servings of vegetables and fruit
DESSERT – YES, DESSERT!
- A bowl of berries with whipped cream
- Frozen yogurt (a small serving)
EVENING SNACK OPTIONS
- Easy-to-eat dried fruit
- High-protein nuts
- A glass of milk or casein protein shake to supplement protein in dairy
- A decaf latte or hot chocolate while unwinding with family
GAME DAY: CARB-LOADING GALORE – AND WHY PLAYERS LOVE ‘COMFORT FOODS’ TO EASE NERVES
There are some cardinal rules:
- Nothing unusual: Players will not be given food they’ve never had before
- Nothing fatty: That sits in the gut too long
- No fiber-rich salads: That takes too long to digest
A BIG BREAKFAST
Jeff Saturday, former NFL player and Super Bowl winner, said he would have two breakfasts on the morning of game day, with a lie-down in between.
It’s common to have oatmeal, carb-heavy pancakes, a steak, or eggs with meat.
LUNCH AT 3PM
Kick-off is at 6.30pm, so it’s a good idea to eat at around 3pm, giving enough time for digestion.
Lunch will usually be something starchy like pasta with a meaty sauce.
Toast, sausages, and vegetable stir-fry are also good options.
THE SNACK: PB&J – THE ULTIMATE NERVE-EASING TREAT
As it turns out, even the best players in the league get game-day jitters.
And what could be better for a nervous stomach than some nostalgic comfort food?
For many players – in the NFL and the NBA alike – there’s nothing like a good old-fashioned peanut butter and jelly sandwich, Kansas City Chiefs dietitian Leslie Bond told CNN.
The sweet sandwiches are best served with a tall glass of milk, too, for the full throw-back-to-childhood effect, she added.
PB&J has even been called the ‘secret addiction’ of a surprising number of professional basketball players, according to ESPN.
AFTER THE GAME: FEAST
Both the winners and the losers are treated to a buffet (though the losers tend not to attend theirs).
It usually consists of wings, burgers, chips – any kind of indulgence they wish.
For Tom Brady, it could be avocado ice cream and a significantly large portion of almonds.
FAN FAVORITES: THE SURPRISING WATCH PARTY DISHES AMERICANS ARE COOKING UP THIS YEAR
If you thought that football watch parties are all about chips, dips, wings and fried everything, this year’s hottest recipes may redefine your idea of kick-off cuisine.
Google Trend’s has (literally) mapped out what fans and each state are planning to whip up for their watch parties this year.
Taking a predictable lead was buffalo chicken dip – which is really more like a rich baked casserole of chicken, cream cheese, cheddar cheese, buffalo wing sauce and ranch dressing – is the most searched-for recipe in eight states.
But from there the list gets a bit unpredictable.
Instead of savory snacks, fans in Washington, Tennessee, Wyoming, South Dakota, Louisiana Hawaii, Florida and Arizona are going sweet and making cakes or cupcakes.
Rather than state classics like fried okra and and cornbread, Mississippians are planning to try a healthier snack on Super Bowl Sunday: granola bars.
And in Maine, fans are choosing more exotic far and cooking up Paella, the classic Spanish rice and protein dish.
MOST-SEARCHED SUPER BOWL SUNDAY RECIPES IN EACH STATE
This Google Trends map shows what dishes Americans are making in each state
Alabama: White chicken chili
Alaska: Nachos
Arizona: Cake
Arkansas: Fried chicken wings
California: Baked chicken breast
Colorado: Broccoli cheese soup
Connecticut: Buffalo chicken dip
Delaware: Chocolate peanut butter cake
Washington, DC: Bagel pigs in a blanket
Florida: Cake
Georgia: Buffalo chicken dip
Hawaii: Football cupcakes
Idaho: Salads
Illinois: Jalapeno poppers
Indiana: Fried rice
Iowa: Irish stew
Kansas: Buffalo chicken dip
Kentucky: Taco salad
Louisiana: Cupcakes
Maine: Paella
Maryland: Pizza
Massachusetts: Gluten free pretzels
Michigan: Pizza
Minnesota: Tacos
Mississippi: Granola bars
Montana: Lentil soup
Nebraska: Pigs in a blanket
Nevada: Vegan cheesy bacon spinach dip
New Hampshire: Cakes and cupcakes
New Jersey: Buffalo chicken dip
New Mexico: Pea and peppercorn mash
New York: Spinach dip
North Carolina: Cobb salad
North Dakota: Baked nachos
Ohio: Buffalo chicken dip
Oklahoma: Chicken noodle soup
Oregon: Banana bread
Pennsylvania: Chicken wings
Rhode Island: 7-layer dip
South Carolina: Turkey chili
South Dakota: Cupcakes
Tennessee: Cake
Texas: Spinach dip
Utah: Bacon wrapped smokies
Vermont: Lasagna
Virginia: Buffalo chicken dip
Washington: Cakes
West Virginia: Buffalo chicken dip
Wisconsin: Buffalo chicken dip
Wyoming: Cake