Let’s just get this out of the way now, shall we: it would be ideal if you could enjoy some greasy, crispy, cheesy, salty goodness, all washed down with your favorite beverage and followed up with something creamy and sweet while you watch the Super Bowl. But, what if this special day happens to fall in the middle (or maybe the end) of your Whole30 or 21 Day Sugar Detox? What are you going to do? The way I see it, you have two choices:
- Throw in the towel and call it good enough.
- Hold firm and finish your detox with your head held high.
There really is no middle ground. On these detox/elimination-type protocols, there is no half-way. So I’m not here to tell you how to fudge your way through a special occasion that, let’s face it, is really all about the food. I’m here to give you fully compliant food ideas that will get you to the finish line feeling strong and proud.
I did write a little book a year ago called Your Paleo Holiday and it contains a whole chapter on Super Bowl goodies. There you can find the following recipes:
- Meatballs
- Teriyaki Chicken Wings
- Buffalo/Hot Wings
- Ranch Dip
- Bacon and Cheese Dip
- Plantain Chips – the perfect dipper!
The New Year’s Eve Chapter contains five more appetizers and a punch recipe. So that’s always an option. You can download the book right now from this website, Amazon or iTunes.
But I have tons of recipes on the blog that would work really well for your Super Bowl gathering. And they’re all free for the taking!
Everybody loves deviled eggs, whether they admit it or not. Make these with the baconnaise instead of the regular mayonnaise and you will be a hero.
Fresh fruit is always a good option! Put out a bowl of whole fruit or cut it up into a nice fruit salad. You could even get fancy and garnish the salad with some large, toasted coconut flakes. Trust me, your guests will be thrilled to have a light, refreshing option.
Meatballs are always a crowd pleaser. I know you can buy these at all the big box stores and just heat them up in some sort of sauce, but why not go the extra mile and make them from scratch with the best ingredients possible?
Teriyaki Wings and Buffalo Wings – The method is the same for both types of wings, but the sauces are different (the buffalo wing recipe is in my book). We’re split in my house as to which one of these is better. Why don’t you make both and let your friends decide? To make the hot wing sauce compliant, be sure to use ghee rather than butter.
Plenty of fresh veggies served with your favorite dip is a fast and easy idea. My ranch dip recipe, pictured here, is available in my book, but I have a delicious avocado lime dip/dressing recipe right here on the blog (second picture below). Just like with the fruit, the crisp, freshness of the veggies will be a real gift to your guests.
Pigs in Blankets – my kids beg for these. Yes, they’re paleo and technically Whole30 compliant, but they aren’t exactly health food, so I usually just make them for Christmas Eve. But because I’m making them all “suffer through” this Whole30 Super Bowl, I’m making these as a concession.
Shrimp Cocktail – just classic, boiled shrimp with a tangy sauce. (I have a great sauce recipe in the New Year’s Eve chapter of my book.) Be sure to make your own sauce to keep it compliant. You’ll need to start with fresh horseradish root. Ignore the cheese in this picture, it’s from a previous Christmas Eve party. 
Oven Fried Okra makes a light and crispy treat that everyone can just pick up with their fingers and pop into their mouths. So good! Everyone will think they’re eating some delicious fried goodness.
Along the same lines as the oven fried okra, we have Oven Fried Squash. I realize this isn’t traditional party food, but these are super yummy dipped in the tomato sauce from the meatballs.
Pineapple Mango Salsa – delicious to just eat with a spoon, but that might be a little weird at a party, so serve it with some baked or fried plantain chips. The only problem with this recipe: your guests might never leave. A bonus with this recipe: it’s even better a couple days after you make it, so making it ahead of time makes game day easier. 
And here’s one bonus recipe, at the suggestion of my son: Butternut Squash Soup.
In case you don’t also have a thirteen year old boy in your house, I’ll tell you that that is a rousing endorsement of this recipe if ever there was one. Super Bowl Sunday is this kid’s favorite eating day of the year. And who can blame him when the menu usually consists of chicken wings, mozzarella sticks, sausage balls, meatballs and a few veggies thrown in for good measure? Oh yeah, don’t forget the super special treat of Zevia Cola.
If these aren’t enough ideas for you, check out this Super Bowl Round-up Post from last year. Lots of folks like to play up the “Soup” part of Super Bowl and have a soup/stew/chili party. Well, I have lots of those recipes for you too. Just type soup in the search bar. And if that’s still not enough, consider purchasing my book, which is full of party-ready recipes.
Wouldn’t you be thrilled to go to someone’s house and be served these foods? Yes, yes you would. Would you feel deprived? No, no you would not.